12 Dec Television Star and Broadway Actor Jerome Preston Bates Featured at Laney Heritage Gala
Augusta born actor and director Jerome Preston Bates will return to his hometown as featured Guest Artist for the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History’s Heritage Gala on February 9th at The Augusta Marriott Hotel on the Riverwalk. Mr. Bates will give an inspirational speech titled Your Gift Will Make Room For You in which he will incorporate moments from his repertoire of artistic work that has propelled him to continue to believe in his God-given talents. He is currently performing in American Son with Kerry Washington from televisions SCANDAL, directed by Kenny Leon of True Colors Theatre.
The Gala Reception will start at 6pm, dinner at 7pm, with dancing at 9pm. Music will be provided by Lynwood Holmes. The Black-Tie event is $100 per person and tables for ten are available for $1000. Tickets are available HERE.
Mr. Bates was born on July 20, 1954 in Augusta, Georgia and is an alumni of Lucy Craft Laney High School. He is known for his television roles in Oz, All My Children, Law & Order, Third Watch, Lights Out, NYPD Blue, New York Undercover, Shaft 2000, Musical Chairs, It Runs in the Family, The Out-of-Towners, Tio Papi, Peeples, Romeo and Juliet in Harlem.
His many Broadway performances include August Wilson’s Jitney at the Manhattan Theater Club, which won a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play, Stick Fly at the Lyceum Theatre and August Wilson’s Seven Guitars, at the Walter Kerr Theatre. His 2018 Off Broadway performances include Mr. Bates as Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis in the one-person play “Satchmo at the Waldorf” by Terry Teachout.
Mr. Bates is also a celebrated director. He directed the entire August Wilson Century Cycle at the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History, GA; Oedipus Rex at the Times Square Arts Center and recently, the critically acclaimed play “The Man in Room 306” about the last night in the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Laney Museum is the cornerstone for the cultural and historical preservation of African American history in Augusta and surrounding area. Support of the Gala benefits the preservation of Augusta’s Destination for Black History, the Museum’s important local historic programs and fine art advocacy, while ensuring that awareness of Augusta’s rich black heritage continues to grow for future generations.
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For more event information contact: Leon Maben, Lucy Craft Laney Board of Directors Leonmaben3@gmail.com 404-488-3207