God's Trombone by James Weldon Johnson 2pm matinee
Directed by David Shakes • Featuring North Star Players & Special Guests "The heavens shake. The earth trembles. And the voice of the preacher becomes a mighty instrument of grace."
Time & Location
Aug 24, 2025, 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Rochester, 142 Atlantic Ave, Rochester, NY 14607, USA
About The Event
Sun., August 24 2:00 PM- God's Trombone by James Weldon Johnson 2pm matinee.
"The heavens shake. The earth trembles. And the voice of the preacher becomes a mighty instrument of grace."
Tickets are available on the Sankofa festival page https://www.muccc.org/events/2025-annual-sankofa-theatre-fest
The legendary North Star Players, joined by special guest actors, present a powerful staged reading of James Weldon Johnson's God's Trombones—a soaring celebration of African American oratory, faith, and resilience. Under the visionary direction of David Shakes, this unforgettable performance brings to life Johnson's iconic folk sermons in verse, from the thunderous "The Creation" to the soul-stirring "Go Down, Death."
With no sets, no props—just the raw power of voice and rhythm—this staged reading transforms poetry into a spiritual experience. The language of the Black pulpit rises like a hymn, swings like a sermon, and roars like a trombone calling the faithful home.
Witness a legacy reborn. Feel the Word take flight.