Adrienne Torf and Voices of Revolution perform Collaboration

Presented by the Steinem Sisters Collection

A spoken word and piano concert at the University of Toledo Center for the Performing Arts featuring Adrienne Torf and Voices of Revolution performing "Collaboration" by Adrienne Torf and June Jordan.

Presented by the Steinem Sisters Collection of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library, this performance will bring together the moving poetry of the late June Jordan, the piano artistry of Adrienne Torf, and the powerful spoken word of Lansing, Michigan's Voices of the Revolution. Special guests Rose Jangmi Cooper and Shelia Burks will add vocal alchemy to the performance. This is the second time this work will be performed mixing strong spoken word voices to powerful piano and harmonies to honor the work of June Jordan.

Tracks from Jordan and Torf’s Collaboration: Selected Works 1988-2000 written and recorded by Jordan and Torf and released in 2003 will be featured. The poetry performed is for an adult audience. The content includes images of misogyny, racism, violence, and other intersections of oppression.

Adrienne Torf is a composer and pianist. Her piano and synthesizer work appear on three solos albums, one in collaboration with her artistic collaborator, the great African American poet, essayist, and activist June Jordan, and more than a dozen commercial releases by other artists. Recent projects include the Theater Alliance / IN Series Washington DC, production of “Poetry for the People: The June Jordan Experience” which was awarded the 2023 Helen Hayes Theater Award for “Outstanding New Play or Musical Adaptation,” and the September 2022 Sedona, AZ production of Torf’s original ensemble piece for instruments and spoken word, “The Awesome Difficult Work of Love.”

Voices of the Revolution is an eclectic collective of feminist voices telling truth through spoken word. Based in Lansing, Michigan, they perform in libraries, community centers, art galleries, or wherever they’re invited. Their work features their own poetry as well as poets such as Pat Parker and June Jordan. Formed in 2018, their collaboration is based on love and respect that goes back decades. The group includes Kim Griffin, Susan Harris, Laurie Hollinger, Tari Muñiz, Lisa Sarno, and Ruelaine Stokes. This performance also features singers Rose Jangmi Cooper and Shelia Banks.

The performance will take place in the Recital Hall of the Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Toledo. Parking Lot 12 is the closest lot to the Center for Performing Arts. It is attached to the Law Center (1825 W Rocket Dr, Toledo, OH 43606) and has both metered and non-metered spots and handicapped parking. The meters are enforced 24/7.

The Steinem Sisters Collection is a feminist collection that explores the lives and achievements of women. Created to honor Gloria Steinem, the collection champions the historical, cultural and political contribution of women; and strives to provide a welcoming space for women of all walks of life to share their truths. The types of materials we collect are first and foremost “feminist materials”- which are those materials that uphold women’s rights and interests in defining and promoting political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes. This collection was made possible due to a generous donation by The Steinem’s Sisters Collective.