Motivational 'Diva' to Perform Feb. 5

01/27/2015 

Professional actress, singer and storyteller Joanna Maddox will pay tribute to Diana Ross, Tina Turner and Whitney Houston with “Life Lessons from the Divas: a Celebration of Song and Dance,” on Thursday, Feb. 5, at SUNY Cortland.

Maddox’s fast-paced, high-energy concert, which is intended to bring to life the music and stories of American’s most legendary musical performers, will start at 7 p.m. in Old Main, Brown Auditorium.

Presented by the Campus Artist and Lecture Series (CALS) as part of the College’s Black History Month series of events, admission to the show is free for SUNY Cortland students with College ID and children ages 10 and under. The general admission charge is $5.

Tickets may be purchased through the Campus Activities and Corey Union Office, Corey Union Room 406, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., or at the door one hour prior to the performance. For more information, call 607-753-5574.

The event also continues the College’s Black History Month series during February and early March. 

For more information on Black History Month, contact Distinguished Service Professor Sam Kelley at Sam.kelley@cortland.edu or 607-753-4104.

“Life Lessons From the Divas” features costume changes, vocals and audience participation. Maddox’s presentation offers several motivational messages and encourages audience members to love and respect themselves.

“The life experiences of these women are resonated in song and inspirational words of wisdom to encourage students to follow their dreams, believe in themselves and to never give up,” Maddox said.

A graduate of the University of Georgia, where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre, Maddox has captivated audiences with her dramatic portrayals of historical black women including Marian Anderson, Wilma Rudolph, Bessie Coleman, Dr. Mae Jemison and Madame C.J. Walker. Maddox presents her “live history lessons” to audiences of all ages at universities, schools, museums, festivals, corporate functions, community events and churches nationwide. “The Diva Tribute” has taken her from Las Vegas to Paris.

Maddox has appeared in numerous national television and radio commercials and corporate videos. Her television credits include “In the Heat of the Night” and “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno.

She was commissioned by Annette Wise of the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site to write and perform a one-woman play about Rachel Clark, a woman who had a profound influence on Carter, the former U.S. president. Titled “Raising a President, the Story of Rachel Clark and Jimmy Carter,” Maddox performed the play for President Carter on Sept. 29, 2004, in Plains, Ga., in celebration of his 80th birthday.

For more information about the performance, visit the website at joannainc.com. For information about this or other CALS events, visit the website at cortland.edu/events/cals.

For more information on Black History Month, contact Distinguished Service Professor Sam Kelley at 607-753-4104.

Black History Month events are co-sponsored by the College’s Affirmative Action Committee; offices of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, President, Dean of Arts and Sciences, and Health Promotion; Student Affairs; Multicultural Life; Health Department; Center for Gender and Intercultural Studies; departments of Sociology/Anthropology, Sport Management, Political Science, Communication Studies, and Africana Studies; Black Student Union; and Campus Artist and Lecture Series.