To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the original publication and to herald its place as a seminal work in the American literary tradition, The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space at WNYC and WQXR presented a multiplatform exploration of the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God.
Here is the list of events that were held by The Greene Space in celebration of this work:
I, TOO, SING AMERICA: LANGSTON AND ZORA’S UN-SUNG COLLABORATION
Presented by WQXR, Hosted by Terrance McKnight
Friday, February 24 at 7pm
THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD: A Radio Play
Starring Phylicia Rashad, Roslyn Ruff, Brandon Dirden and Leslie Uggams. Directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson and adapted by Arthur Yorinks
Wednesday, February 29 & Thursday, March 1 at 7pm
A LITERARY SALON
Mix and Mingle and enjoy readings from Their Eyes Were Watching God by poet and actor Carl Hancock Rux, as well as musical interludes with Martha Redbone, Nona Hendryx, Marcelle Lashley and
Kimberly Nichole.
Wednesday, March 14 at 6 pm
WOMEN WRITERS ON THE HORIZON with Alice Walker, Sonia Sanchez and Ruby Dee. Moderated by Zora’s niece, Luce Anne Hurston
Wednesday, March 28 at 7pm
Here is video from the festivities, including the Women Writers comments.
After 75 years, Zora Neale Hurston’s novel, “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” still resonates in the hearts and minds of contemporary audiences, but it had particular significance for Black women writers and artists who were working at the time of its rediscovery. The Greene Space convened three luminaries who are all intimately connected to the novel — Alice Walker, Sonia Sanchez and Ruby Dee — to share their stories and describe how they saw Janie and Zora’s horizons on their own journeys. Zora Neale Hurston’s niece Lucy Anne Hurston, author of Speak, So You Can Speak Again: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston, served as the evening’s moderator.
The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space is New York Public Radio’s open gathering place. To enter is to embark on a soul-stirring journey to connect, to inspire, and to transform.
