Taking the Stage Premieres on ABC Thursday January 12!
The ABC Television Network celebrates the unveiling of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture with a two-hour program of music, dance and the spoken word called "Taking the Stage: African American Music and Stories That Changed America."
ABC announced more influential voices to the opening of the Smithsonian's new National Museum of African American History and Culture. Angela Bassett, Dave Chappelle, Chuck D., Doug E. Fresh, Savion Glover, Tom Hanks, Samuel L. Jackson, Quincy Jones, Rashida Jones, Elijah Kelley, Janelle Monae, Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith, Octavia Spencer, Chris Tucker, Jesse Williams, Oprah Winfrey and Stevie Wonder join the stellar list of artists celebrating America as seen through the prism of African American culture.
Previously announced entertainers include Patti Austin, Christina Aguilera, Alvin Ailey Dancers, Angela Bassett, Jon Batiste, Shirley Caesar, Chloe x Halle, Gary Clark Jr., Common, Cynthia Erivo, Fantasia, Jamie Foxx, Robert Glasper, Dave Grohl with Trouble Funk, Herbie Hancock, Gladys Knight, John Legend, Mary J. Blige, Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin, NeYo and Usher.
World-renowned dignitaries, athletes and artists from around the globe will come together for the program at Washington's John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Designed to explore and celebrate African American contributions to the global landscape, the program will feature new film footage of iconic items from the museum's collections – items ranging from a plane used to train the famed Tuskegee airmen for World War II combat duty to a bible owned by Nat Turner. The film is accompanied by music, dance and dramatic readings by a wide range of stage and screen actors. The executive producers are Don Mischer and Quincy Jones, along with Don Mischer Productions' Charlie Haykel and Juliane Hare. The production airs on ABC stations nationwide on January 12, 2017 9/8c!