MAGGIE D’ MOUSE MEETS DE DIRDY RAT FINK
MAGGIE D’ MOUSE MEETS DE DIRDY RAT FINK was my first production, a children’s musical, with book, lyrics and music by C. Bernard Jackson. On the second page below, you can read my philosophy about children and art.
We had a very exciting opening night, with celebrities like Puff ‘n Stuff, Chris Knight and Barry Williams from the Brady Bunch, Esther Rolle and the “Balloon Man” from Century City, who entertained the children pre-show.
Riverside Press, undated, LA Inner-City Offers Holiday Treat for Children. Review by T. Foreman. 1975.
One of my favorite moments during the run of this show was when a large group of bright and attentive children came and seemed to understand the show in a deeper way. “Who ARE those kids?” I asked. “Oh, they’re the Jack and Jills.” I later learned that “Jack and Jill of America, Inc. is a membership organization of mothers with children ages 2-19, dedicated to nurturing future African-American leaders by strengthening children through leadership development, volunteer service, philanthropic giving and civic duty.” Another moment was when my six-year-old daughter, who had spent many hours with me at ICCC, stood up in the middle of her first-grade class in a West Hollywood elementary school, and said, “Why are there no brown faces in this class?” Children and Art indeed!
To read more about my years at Inner City Cultural Center, click here.
