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

________________________________

President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on May 13, 2013.

________________________________

Secretary of the Senate

________________________________

Member, Texas Senate