Searching for Joyce Carol Thomas
Omari Tau, multi-faceted performing artist, director, and professor of vocal music (re)introduces the nearly forgotten award-winning author, poet, and playwright Joyce Carol Thomas (1938-2016) to the Amatoria audience. Thomas, who ran in the same circles as Alice Walker, Maya Angelou, and Ishmael Reed, wrote stories primarily for young Black readers, championing themes of empowerment and perseverance with a sort of spiritual grace.
Sharing stories from his recent sabbatical work to restore the online legacy and promotion of the author of over 30 books, Tau will read from Thomas’ poems, excerpts from her novels, and share stories about her life and career.
www.omaritau.com
www.joycecarolthomas.net
Omari is a Sacramento native and Co-Founding Artistic Director of Rogue Music Project, Professor of Vocal Music at Cosumnes River College, and member of the band Solabel.
Tau served as the Director of Opera Theatre at Sacramento State University for six years and directed Houston Grand Opera’s Education and Outreach program Opera To Go! which prepared young professionals and college-level artists for the stage performing in an opera troupe dedicated to young audiences.
As performing artist, the baritone toured internationally with Disney’s The Lion King for nearly nine years. Other credits include roles at the Tony Award-winning Alley Theatre, the Tony Award-Winning TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, MUNY, Sacramento’s Broadway at Music Circus, and Theater Under The Stars among others.
As a composer himself, Tau’s operas A Night At the Algonquin, Hans in Luck and The Pre-Show Opera Lecture were commissioned and premiered by Lone Star Lyric where they enjoyed successful runs. He composed for Houston Grand Opera’s Education and Outreach program as well as his initiative Lions in the Library which features chamber music accompaniments to readings of children’s books. In 2024, he was honored to arrange music for Disney’s The Lion King 25th Anniversary celebration on the Broadway stage.
