SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 881
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
welcome the touring production of Fela! to Dallas and to
recognize the performers and production team for their support of
nonprofit organizations in the community; and
WHEREAS, This exuberant and inspiring musical is based on
the life of Fela Kuti, who was the creator of the Afrobeat musical
genre; Mr. Kuti was a Nigerian musician and activist who used his
gift for songwriting to exhort his countrymen to protest the
tyranny of successive military dictatorships in Nigeria; and
WHEREAS, The touring production features an outstanding
cast that includes recording artist Michelle Williams of
Destiny's Child; it is produced by Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter and Will
Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith and has received resounding
international acclaim; and
WHEREAS, Fela! is impressively directed and choreographed
by the award-winning choreographer Bill T. Jones; the original
Broadway production won three Tony Awards in 2010; and
WHEREAS, The talented members of the Fela! cast and crew
are also committed to helping the communities in which they
perform, and in a fitting tribute to Mr. Kuti's keen sense of
social justice, the production is donating a portion of the
proceeds from the Dallas shows to local nonprofit organizations;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
83rd Legislature, hereby commend the cast and crew of Fela! on
their outstanding production and extend to them sincere
appreciation for their support of nonprofit community groups in
Texas; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
them as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.
West
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on May 13, 2013.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate