(WASHINGTON, DC) – On Friday, September 29, at 1 pm, Mayor Bowser will recognize native Washingtonian, DC Public Schools alumnus, and Emmy award winner Dave Chappelle with a special presentation of gratitude, in recognition of his comedic craft, artistic merit, promotion of DC Values, and overall perseverance.
WHEN:
Friday, September 29, at 1 pm
WHO:
Mayor Muriel Bowser
Dave Chappelle, Actor and Comedian
Tia Powell Harris, Chief Executive Officer, Duke Ellington School of the Arts
Makael Exum, Freshman Student, Theatre Department
WHERE:
Duke Ellington School of the Arts
3500 R Street, NW, Ellington Theatre
*Bus Lines: D1, D2, D51*
About Dave Chappelle
David Chappelle is an Emmy-award winning stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer. As a third generation Washingtonian, the precocious 14-year-old student of Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Washington, DC, crafted his standup comedy act out of the realities of his life growing up Black in our nation’s capital. To date, Chappelle has been nominated for two NAACP Image Awards and two Teen Choice Awards. His recent performance on Saturday Night Live earned him his first Emmy Award. Comedy Central ranks Chappelle as Number 43 of “100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time.” Esquire Magazine has called him “the comic genius of America,” and GQ Magazine featured Chappelle on the cover of its Man of the Year issue in 2015.
About Tia Powell-Harris
Tia Powell Harris’ career as an arts educator began at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and spans over twenty years. Following her work at Ellington she served first as Manager of Community Partnerships at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and then as Associate Director of Education Programs at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. While at the Smithsonian she also acted as co-chair of the Smithsonian Institution’s Material Culture Forum. She returned to Duke Ellington School of the Arts in 2006 where she held the position of Dean of Arts and finally Director of Artistic Affairs. Most recently she served as Executive Director/President at Weeksville Heritage Center, a multidimensional museum dedicated to preserving the history of the 19th century African American community of Weeksville, Brooklyn. She holds a BS in Speech and Drama Education and an MA in Communication Arts and Theatre from the University of Maryland. Tia is thrilled to resume her work with Duke Ellington, this time as Chief Executive Officer.
About Mikael Exum
Mikael Exum is a freshman Theater Department student interested in becoming a stand up comedian and sketch comedy actor. He learned of Duke Ellington when researching his idol, Dave Chappelle, two years prior to auditioning for the school. He admires Chappelle's style of comedy, particularly his wit and intelligence, and hopes to become the greatest comedian of his generation.
Press interested in attending the event are asked to RSVP to [email protected].