Ever stop and think how much change your grandparents witnessed in their lives?
Imagine they lived to be 100 years old and were alive during the country's more turbulent times?
Welcome to the home of the Delany sisters. Sadie, who is 103 years old, and Bessie, who is 101, are preparing a meal in remembrance of their father's birthday, and they have a story to tell in "Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years."
The two African-American sisters lived through the turbulent times just after the Civil War, the turn of the century, when the two move to Harlem before the roaring '20s, and the Great Depression.
Their story continues up through their struggle to get an education and a career in a male-dominated society. The show stars Rita Martin and Toni Byrd and runs Jan. 26-Feb. 6, nightly, except Sunday, 7:30 p.m., with matinees available, at The Grand Theatre, 1575 S. State. Tickets are $8-$24 (801-957-3322 or www.the-grand.org).
In honor of black History Month, The Grand Theatre has partnered with the Utah Cultural Celebration Center to help promote the show and is hosting the following events:
The Utah Cultural Celebration Center curated an exhibit, "Utah's African History: Storytelling Through Arts and Artifact." The exhibit includes art, artifacts and family heirlooms drawn from Utah's African and African-American communities.
The exhibit is open to the public and continues until March 1. The Utah Cultural Celebration Center is located at 1355 W. 3100 South and is open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Open forum discussion with African-American women in Utah and their experiences living here. Women will be asked to share their experiences, both positive and negative, regarding life in Salt Lake as women of color. The discussion will take place Jan. 28, 6:30 p.m., at The Grand Theatre.
A matinee for junior high students, high school students and senior citizens, Feb. 2, 10 a.m. The Cultural Celebration Center is working with Grand Theatre to find students and senior citizens to attend the production. The Grand has also been working closely with Emma Houston at Salt Lake County Aging Services to help us get the word out to Senior Centers in the Salt Lake Valley. Contact the theater at 801-957-3447 for more information.
Free film screening, "The Wisdom of Our Years," in which Phyllis Caruth documents racism in Utah by interviewing elderly black residents. Feb. 9, 7 p.m., at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center.
e-mail: ehansen@desnews.com