[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 96 (Monday, July 8, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1018]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF ``MAMA, I WANT TO SING'' THE 
         LONGEST RUNNING OFF-BROADWAY SHOW IN AMERICAN HISTORY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, July 8, 2013

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor, recognize, and 
celebrate the MAMA Foundation's 30th Anniversary of the gospel musical 
``Mama, I Want to Sing.'' On Saturday, March 23, 2013, The Dempsey 
Theater hosted the 30th Anniversary Gala Celebration for ``Mama, I Want 
To Sing,'' the longest running Black Off-Broadway show in American 
history, which debuted as a gospel musical in 1983. This Gala event, 
took place exactly 30 years to the day from when the original 
production opened in Harlem to great acclaim.
  The Gala began with a very special performance that included musical 
highlights from ``Mama, I Want to Sing and Sing, Harlem, Sing!'', as 
well as a performance from the Gospel for Teens Choir. Lesley Stahl, 
who received an Emmy award for her ``60 Minutes'' profile on Gospel for 
Teens, was honored for her contributions to journalism and for her 
support of the Mama Foundation for the Arts. The 30th Anniversary 
celebration will include a gala featuring the best of Harlem's renowned 
restaurants including Sylvia's, Spoonbread, The Red Rooster, Corner 
Social, Chez Lucien, Jacob's Soul Food, Melba's and Make My Cake. The 
spiritually uplifting evening culminated in a spontaneous church-
inspired closing with R&B divas Cissy Houston, Dionne Warwick, Angie 
Stone, Valerie Simpson and Crystal Aiken individually joining the 
Gospel for Teens Choir in a rousing version of ``This Little Light of 
Mine'' that brought the sold-out crowd to its feet.
  In 1979, Vy Higginsen and her husband, Ken Wydro wrote the book and 
lyrics for Mama. It was rejected by every major producer in New York. 
Not one producer believed that the story was worth telling or that an 
audience could be found for a gospel-based production. Vy and Ken 
pushed forward and produced the now internationally-acclaimed ``Mama, I 
Want to Sing'' gospel musical that tells the story of a talented young 
girl who dreams of leaving her church choir to pursue a life in popular 
music, despite strong objections from her mother. A tribute to the many 
African American artists with church choir roots who rose to fame in 
the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, creator Higginsen based her musical on the 
life of her sister Doris Troy whose 1963 hit ``Just One Look'' launched 
her to international fame. The show, featured original music by Wesley 
Naylor opened at Harlem's Hecksher Theater (at El Museo del Barrio) in 
1983 and since then has become the ``little red engine that could'' of 
Off-Off Broadway productions.
  In 1998, Vy Higginsen created the Mama Foundation for the Arts to 
present, preserve, and promote Gospel, Jazz, and R&B as art forms for 
current and future generations. The Mama Foundation for the Arts (MFA) 
has been internationally acclaimed for rebuilding Harlem as an artistic 
cultural center featuring entertainment and arts education. The Mama 
Foundation has produced a dozen theater productions, which have been 
performed on several continents, including its best known musical, 
``Mama, I Want To Sing.''
  In 2003, Higginsen created the School of Gospel, Jazz, and R&B Arts. 
Three years later, she formed the award-winning Gospel for Teens 
program to train youth and ``save the music.'' According to Lesley 
Stahl from CBS's ``60 Minutes,'' ``The Gospel for Teens program is not 
just teaching gospel, it is saving these kids.'' Mama Foundation 
members have performed at numerous special events including the TED2012 
Full Spectrum conference, the Congressional Black Caucus' Annual 
Legislative Conference, The Stellar Awards, and a reception for 
Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. Madonna, Chaka Khan, opera 
singer Jessye Norman and gospel artist Shirley Caesar are among the 
many stars that have shared the stage with the Gospel for Teens Choir.
  In 2006, she founded Gospel for Teens, a free educational program 
that offers a substitute for the arts programs removed from many inner 
city schools. For her outstanding contributions to gospel music, she 
was presented with the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award 
at the 2012 Stellar Gospel Music Awards. The Schomburg Center for 
Research in Black Culture proclaimed Vy a Harlem Hero in ``Harlem Is'' 
a public art and education project of Community Works.
  Vocalist and Instructor Ahmaya Knoelle Higginsen, daughter of Vy 
Higginsen, is the current lead in ``Mama, I Want To Sing: The Next 
Generation.'' She began her professional career at seven years old 
starring in 'Sing! Mama 2' with Shirley Caesar at the Theatre at 
Madison Square Garden and during its world tour in Japan. Ahmaya 
Knoelle has performed in Gospel Is . . .! and Sing, Harlem, Sing! 
Internationally, as well as recording on several albums. She studied at 
the Manhattan School of Music and the American Dramatic and Music 
Academy in New York. Ahmaya Knoelle also teaches private vocal 
instruction at the Mama Foundation for the Arts and trains young 
students in the Foundation's Gospel For Teens program.
  The Mama Foundation's mission is to present, preserve, and promote 
the history and fundamentals of gospel, jazz, and rhythm and blues 
music for current and future generations. The Foundation has 
established a cultural space in Harlem where youth and adults have 
access to quality training and employment as performing artists. The 
Foundation was inspired by the worldwide success of our award-winning 
musical, ``Mama, I Want to Sing.'' A combination of arts education, 
public workshops, and live events contribute to Harlem's resurgence as 
an artistic and cultural destination. I am so very appreciative for the 
many contributions of Vy Higginsen and the Mama Foundation. The 
dedication and devotion to the arts of our community is most-
commendable and deserving of Congressional Recognition. I ask my 
colleagues and our Nation to join me in this special celebration of the 
30th Anniversary of ``Mama, I Want to Sing.''

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