ABC announced its talent lineup to be seen at the opening of the Smithsonian’s new National Museum of African American History and Culture. Stars will include Mary J. Blige, Jamie Foxx, Dave Grohl with Trouble Funk, Usher, Christina Aguilera, Common, NeYo, Patti Austin, The Alvin Ailey Dancers, Gary Clark Jr., Gladys Knight and The Howard Gospel Choir.
ABC will celebrate 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 – Changing America.”
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 will be filmed on September 23 and will air on ABC stations nationwide in the 2016-2017 season.