African American Woman Activist for Justice for South Africa's Children Comes Home to the U.S. in March 2005

(PRWEB) January 31, 2005

?Powerful in its message and arresting in its fervent plea to make sense of the senseless, this book is a clarion call to the God in all of us that we might wake up and stop the madness.? --LeVar Burton, actor, director, and children?s advocate

Claudia J. Ford?African American woman, globetrotting ex-patriot, midwife, activist, scholar, feminist, author, mother?has spent the past several years spreading global awareness of the horrors of infant rape in sub-Saharan Africa. She was inspired to do this by her adoption of an infant named Vyanna, who at five months old survived a brutal gang rape on the streets of Johannesburg, South Africa, where Ford has made her home for a number of years. Ford will be traveling to the United States in March 2005, and will be available for appearances, workshops, speaking engagements, and media interviews.

Ford?s life story thus far has been nothing less than extraordinary. Since graduating Barnard College in 1976, she has lived on nearly every continent on the world, honing her expertise on issues of international development while raising three sons on her own. Her sons are now grown men who continue to inform Ford?s scholarly work around notions of masculinity and power, particularly in the realm of childrearing. Ford?s work in this realm of late has crystallized around her experiences mothering Vyanna. Ford?s recently published memoir, Why Do I Scream at God for the Rape of Babies? (North Atlantic Books, December 2004, Trade Paperback, $ 9.95, ISBN: 1-55643-547-9) chronicles the first two years of Vyanna?s life, beginning with their first chance meeting in a Johannesburg hospital ward.

Claudia J. Ford and the organization she founded, The Princess Trust, are taking on infant rape itself, raising funds to provide support for survivors while studying the root causes of such an epidemic with an eye towards bringing it to an end. Her efforts have reached the attention of Oprah Winfrey, who hosted Ford on The Oprah Winfrey Show in July of 2004. With its frank and multi-faceted approach to this issue, along with 51 percent of its proceeds going to The Princess Trust, Why Do I Scream at God for the Rape of Babies? is an enormous part of those efforts.

For press materials, review copies, or to interview Claudia J. Ford, please contact Olivia Ford, Publicist, North Atlantic Books/Frog, Ltd., (510) 559-8277 ext. 18, oford@northatlanticbooks.com.

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Related Princess And The Frog Press Releases

Theatre Building Chicago announces 12th annual STAGES - a festival of new musical: August 12-14, 2005

CHICAGO (PRWEB) August 3, 2005

Theatre Building Chicago presents STAGES 2005: a festival of new musicals beginning Friday, August 12 and continuing thru Sunday, August 14, 2004.

The three-day musical extravaganza features nine new works including musicals by homegrown Chicago writers Georgann Joseph & Janet Preus (EVER AFTER) as well as Dave Hudson and Paul Libman (BRINGERS - 2005 Richard Rodgers award, best new musical). STAGES, a festival of new musicals is Theatre Building Chicago?s 12th annual showcase for new musical theatre works-in-progress. The new musicals include stories of fairy tale love (The Frog Prince) and murder (THE STRANGE AFFAIR OF DR. CRIPPEN), Hollywood hell (THE DEVIL AND DEXTER WEBSTER).

STAGES kick-off gala (6PM reception; 7:30pm performance, Fri., Aug. 12) will include pre-show cocktail & hors ?d?oeurves followed by the world premiere of BRINGERS, winner of the 2005 Richard Rodgers award for best new musical. Guests will have a chance to meet the entire festival of authors & artists involved, including the award-winning creators of BRINGERS, local writers Dave Hudson and Paul Libman. A post-show cocktail reception will conclude the opening night festivities.

Now in its twelfth season, STAGES 2005 renews its commitment to musicals in development and the artists who make musicals possible. At STAGES, audiences are given the opportunity to partner with the writers in a creative atmosphere that encourages honest sharing and invaluable feedback. The presentations range from concert readings to staged studio presentations. All musicals are offered in their entirety, back to back throughout the weekend.

THEATRE BUILDING CHICAGO?s musical program offers an array of new works in multiple ?stages? of development. TBC nurtures new works through its Musical Theatre Writers? Workshop and collaborates with theatre companies & artists throughout the country to develop new musicals. TBC has produced over 100 Chicago premieres of new musicals, first seen as ?Monday Night Musicals? concert readings and educational outreach performances as well as fully staged studio presentations. STAGES is just one of the numerous highlights of the season for the nationally recognized TBC Musical Development program. Headed for Artistic Director John Sparks, Theatre Building Chicago boasts several successful alumni including Tony award-winner Mark Hollmann (Urinetown), Susan DiLallo (Kleban & Richard Rodgers award winner - Once Upon a Time in New Jersey) & Dave Hudson and Paul Libman (BRINGERS - 2005 Richard Rodgers award, best new musical).

WHAT: STAGES 2005 ? a marathon weekend of NINE new musicals

WHEN: STAGES kick-off gala (6PM reception; 7:30PM performance, Fri., Aug. 12) Curtain times range from 9AM-7:30PM, Sat.- Sun., Aug. 13-14

BRUNCH: 11:15AM, Sun., 8/14, followed by DIRECTORS? FORUM: 11:45AM

WHERE (box office): 1225 W Belmont Ave., Chicago, IL | BOX OFFICE Phone: 773.327.5252

TICKETS: $ 75 - STAGES kick-off gala tickets | $ 85 - STAGES PASS offering entry to all nine musicals both Sat. & Sun., 8/13-14, includes DIRECTORS? FORUM on 8/14); $ 20 ? BRUNCH, 11:15AM, Sun., 8/14. $ 15 - Single tickets will be sold at the door as available.

STAGES 2005 presents FRIDAY NIGHT KICK-OFF OPENING

(6PM reception; 7:30PM performance, Fri., Aug. 12):

BRINGERS

Music by Paul Libman, Lyrics and Concept by Dave Hudson

7:30pm ? Friday, August 12 ? 12:30pm ? Saturday, August 13th

Inspired by the poetry of Carl Sandburg, this original musical joyfully explores the repeating cycle of life in the Midwest. Bringers draws on American music traditions from folk to jazz, evoking the images and emotions of the American landscape. ?2005 Richard Rodgers award, best new musical

SUMMER SHORTS ? A Double Bill of One Acts

????THE BIG ENDING

????Book, Music and Lyrics by Shrubshall & Free

????THE BIG BEGINNING

????Music by Ross Källing, Book and Lyrics by Scott Guy

3:30pm ? Saturday, August 13th ? 3:45pm ? Sunday, August 14th

TBC puts on our summer shorts, offering two new musicals in brief one-acts! Straight from London?s Mercury Musical Developments and Los Angeles? Academy for New Musical Theatre comes an irreverent double-bill about dying musical theatre producers and dead playwrights.

THE DEVIL AND DEXTER WEBSTER

Book & Lyrics by Alex Wexler and Music by Bill Parsley

7:30pm ? Saturday, August 13th ? 9:00am ? Sunday, August 14th

In return for fame and fortune, Hollywood hopeful Dex Webster signs away his soul to Malatoff Dyáblik, film producer and Devil incarnate!

EVER AFTER

Book by Georgann Joseph, Music by Janet Preus, Lyrics by Georgann Joseph & Janet Preus

12:30pm ? Saturday, August 13th ? 6:00pm ? Sunday, August 14th

Karen, a thirty-something attorney, sets out to find the perfect man with the help of her best friend, who thinks that Karen has been sabotaging herself when it comes to love.

THE FROG PRINCE

Book & Lyrics by Charles Leipart and Music by Eric Schorr

3:30pm ? Saturday, August 13th ? 3:45pm ? Sunday, August 14th

Some women marry princes and some women marry frogs. In this wacky, romantic and contemporary version of the classic Grimm fairytale, our Princess meets a frog she is determined to turn into a Prince!

PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD

Book by Richard B. Evans & Kate Hancock, Music by Richard B. Evans, Lyrics by Kate Hancock

9:00am ? Saturday, August 13th ? 1:00pm ? Sunday, August 14th

Irish village life turns upside down when a stranger confesses he?s killed his father. Hero or villain? Irish comedy, romance, music and dance meet Broadway!

THE STRANGE AFFAIR OF DR. CRIPPEN

Book by David Mallamud & Michael L. Cooper, Music by David Mallamud, Lyrics by Michael L. Cooper

9:00am ? Saturday, August 13th ? 1:00pm ? Sunday, August 14th

Set in the dark world of the Edwardian British music hall Crippen tells the unbelievable but true story of a murderous doctor and his doomed wife.

TEVYE

Music by Thomas Adams, Lyrics by J.M. Eisenman, Book by J.M Eisenman and Thomas Adams, Additional Lyrics by Thomas Adams

7:30pm ? Saturday, August 13th ? 9:00am ? Sunday, August 14th

Oy vey, what took so long? Tevye, musical theatre?s beloved Papa, is back in this poignant new story of his struggle to reconcile family and faith with life... in America.

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