DeKALB – The Egyptian Theatre, located on 2nd St. in downtown DeKalb, will host the free musical event “1619: The Journey of a People” at 6 p.m. on Thursday which will be open to the public and NIU students. 

The performance will last roughly two hours and traces the African American journey toward freedom and equality in the United States. The musical commemorates America’s African sons and daughters by using musical forms such as hip-hop and jazz. 

Since being written in 2019 by author Ted Williams III, the production has had several sold-out shows in Chicago and performed at colleges such as Wheaton College and Hampton University. 

NIU Associate Professor Joseph E. Flynn will moderate a thirty-minute talk-back session where audience members are free to ask questions to the cast following the production.

Attendees are welcome to bring items to donate to a needs drive which is being hosted in conjunction with the musical. Toilet paper, pasta sauce, canned tuna and black beans are examples of items that can be donated but all items are appreciated. 

On October 27, Nikole Hannah-Jones, creator and editor of “1619: The Journey of a People”, will discuss with Vernese Edgehill-Walden, Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at NIU, on topics such as the state of American history education, the long term consequences of slavery and segregation and how journalism can bring a change to society. 

The event will start at 4 p.m. and will be hosted on Zoom. 

Hannah-Jones will be the next guest in NIU’s Rebuilding Democracy Lecture Series. The series discusses aspects of building a stronger democracy and how to unite a fractured society. 

Due to a capacity of 500 seats, advanced registration is required. NIU students who want to attend the event can gather in the Regency Room of Holmes Student Center. 

For more information on the “1619” musical, visit the Egyptian Theatre website.