B safe B Well B Love

OniLasana@gmail.com

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    • LOL 4 REAL!
    • I DREAMT, MLK JR
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  • PAUL L. DUNBAR
    • ABOUT DUNBAR
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    • 'LIAS' MOTHER
    • ALWAYS FREE
  • STORY VILLAGE LIVE!
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    • POET
    • BOOKS, VIDEOS & MORE
  • WORKSHOPS
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  • More
    • WELCOME
    • PROGRAMS
      • THE STORYTELLER
      • ANANSI TIME
      • GIRL FRIENDS!
      • MAMA EARTH
      • HEY AESOP!
      • HARRIET TUBMAN
      • GRANNY GOOSE
      • LOL 4 REAL!
      • I DREAMT, MLK JR
    • PODCASTS
    • AUNTI ONI
    • PAUL L. DUNBAR
      • ABOUT DUNBAR
      • VOICES OF DUNBAR
      • 'LIAS' MOTHER
      • ALWAYS FREE
    • STORY VILLAGE LIVE!
    • APPEARANCES
    • PERFORMANCE POET
      • POET
      • BOOKS, VIDEOS & MORE
    • WORKSHOPS
    • INTERVIEWS
    • APPLAUSE
    • Fee/HONORARIUM
    • ABOUT ONI

OniLasana@gmail.com

  • WELCOME
  • PROGRAMS
  • PODCASTS
  • AUNTI ONI
  • PAUL L. DUNBAR
  • STORY VILLAGE LIVE!
  • APPEARANCES
  • PERFORMANCE POET
  • WORKSHOPS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • APPLAUSE
  • Fee/HONORARIUM
  • ABOUT ONI

Doin' Dunbar as 'Lias' Mother

"Oni is the voice of Dunbar!"....Professor Nikki Giovanni, Virginia Tech


"Many hearts were touched by your rendition of 'Lias' Mother."  

Debbie Allen, Actress, Director & Co-producer of Amistad, LA, California



Oni Lasana as 'Lias' Mother

Bose-Giles Family Reunion, Lancaster, Pa

Peoples Light & Theater Co. Malvern, Pa

"Oni Lasana Doin' Dunbar as 'Lias' Mother" is the most popular and long running program. 

In 1992, Oni studied Dunbar's life, poetry and performed with the Bob Jones Dance and Theater Ensemble of the Coatesville Cultural Society of Chester County Pennsylvania.

The play features the southern dialect spoken word poetry of the iconic poet & au

"Oni Lasana Doin' Dunbar as 'Lias' Mother" is the most popular and long running program. 

In 1992, Oni studied Dunbar's life, poetry and performed with the Bob Jones Dance and Theater Ensemble of the Coatesville Cultural Society of Chester County Pennsylvania.

The play features the southern dialect spoken word poetry of the iconic poet & author, Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906). 

Set during the 1800's on a plantation in Cross, So. Carolina, the home of Oni's paternal grandmother.

'Lias' Mother reveals the personal heartfelt experiences of an enslaved  woman living on a southern  plantation in America. 

 



Peoples Light & Theater Co. Malvern, Pa

Bose-Giles Family Reunion, Lancaster, Pa

Peoples Light & Theater Co. Malvern, Pa

Paul Laurence Dunbar's most loved and recited poem comes to life as Oni comforts her son Elias as only a mother can. With tender loving care, good advice and a little discipline.

 
* REPERTOIRE *
In The Morning  
Possum
A Preference
When De Corn Pone's Hot   
De Way T'ings Come
Keep A 'Pluggin' Away
A Coquette Conquered
My Sort O'Man
W

Paul Laurence Dunbar's most loved and recited poem comes to life as Oni comforts her son Elias as only a mother can. With tender loving care, good advice and a little discipline.

 
* REPERTOIRE *
In The Morning  
Possum
A Preference
When De Corn Pone's Hot   
De Way T'ings Come
Keep A 'Pluggin' Away
A Coquette Conquered
My Sort O'Man
When Dey 'Listed Colored Soldiers
Whistlin' Sam
When Malindy Sings
Philosophy
Angelina
De Critters' Dance  
An Ante-Bellum Sermon

~ ~ ~



Bose-Giles Family Reunion, Lancaster, Pa

Bose-Giles Family Reunion, Lancaster, Pa

Bose-Giles Family Reunion, Lancaster, Pa

* PRESENTERS * 


  •  History Dinner Theater, Latrobe, PA
  • Lincoln University, PA
  • Virginia Tech University, VA
  • Tobago Heritage Festival
  • Dunbar House - Dayton, OH
  • Philadelphia Museum of Art
  • Mercer Museum of Doylestown, PA
  • Diego Martin Library, Trinidad
  • East Stroudsburg University, PA
  • Historic Johnson House, Philadelphia, PA
  • Woman Conference, Community Coll

* PRESENTERS * 


  •  History Dinner Theater, Latrobe, PA
  • Lincoln University, PA
  • Virginia Tech University, VA
  • Tobago Heritage Festival
  • Dunbar House - Dayton, OH
  • Philadelphia Museum of Art
  • Mercer Museum of Doylestown, PA
  • Diego Martin Library, Trinidad
  • East Stroudsburg University, PA
  • Historic Johnson House, Philadelphia, PA
  • Woman Conference, Community College of Denver, Colorado
  • Retirement Party - African American Museum of Philadelphia
  • Bucks County Free Libraries, Pennsylvania  
  • Manassas Park City Schools, Virginia
  • DoDD Schools in Heidelberg, Hamburg, Kaiserslautern, Würzburg, Amburg, GERMANY
  • People's Light & Theater Co, Malvern PA

Many more, schools, family reunions, libraries, senior centers, residencies, workshops & storytelling festival

"Thank you so much for coming to my retirement celebration and for sharing your special poetic skills to entertain me and my guest. As always, you were terrific!  Your Dunbar sketches are so special because they keep our rich cultural alive, in the hearts and memory of our people. Tuta Anana Tena, Hotep! Fondly,  

  Carolyn L. Holmes, Ph.D. Director of African and African-American Studies Department, Philadelphia Board of Education  Supervisor Prof. @ Drexel University, PA.  

Explore Paul Laurence Dunbar! #Dunbar150

    Oni Lasana Doin' Dunbar as 'Lias' Mother Playlist


    "A MUST SEE!...Moving, enriching and a great addition to any college campus program...call her now!" 

    Kim Poast, Community College of Denver, Woman Of Color Conference 


    Program Display & Flyers

    Words of Appreciation


    Dear Oni,      

    What a triumph! We actually had to turn fifty people away.    

     You were superb! The audience laughed and cried and laughed and got hungry and clapped and laughed some more. 

    We all absolutely loved you and can't wait until you are able to schedule us again.    

    Paul Laurence Dunbar would be extremely proud to see this daughter of the north, as he himself was a son of the north, taking up his voice to keep the hope, joy and dignity of a people now gone alive.    

    You made us all so very proud, Oni, to be children of the sun.   

    Your sister in poetry, 

    Nikki Giovanni

    Tenured Professor of English, Virginia Tech University

    March 1999


    Find out more

    In The Morning

    Paul Laurence Dunbar's most recited & loved southern dialect poem.

    Watch, How Lucy Backslid!

    Wen' Dey' 'Listed Colored Soldiers

    Mercer Museum, Pennsylvania

    Middle School - University

    Middle School - University

    Middle School - University

     'Lias' Mother gives out higher educational life lessons.

    South Philly Library

    Middle School - University

    Middle School - University

    Elias comes in all shapes, sizes and ages!

    History Dinner Theater

    Middle School - University

    History Dinner Theater

     The Foster and Muriel McCarl Coverlet Gallery, Latrobe, Pennsylvania 2016 

    Show More

    Germantown Homes, Philadelphia, Pa

    Germantown Homes, Philadelphia, Pa

    Germantown Homes, Philadelphia, Pa

     

    Philadelphia FBI Black History

    Germantown Homes, Philadelphia, Pa

    Germantown Homes, Philadelphia, Pa

    Bucks County Library Systems

    Germantown Homes, Philadelphia, Pa

    Bucks County Library Systems

    Listen to Dunbar's poetry on Episodes 10, 13, 18 & 44

    ~ Advertisement Statement ~

    ONI LASANA DOIN' DUNBAR AS 'LIAS' MOTHER

    An engaging one woman theatrical interactive production mixes the pathos and humor of Paul Laurence Dunbar's most loved spoken words.

    Set during the Civil War in the 1800's, is a unforgettable heartfelt journey in American History, Literature and Music. 

    Oni's Diary ~ Muse : considering something thoughtfully

    Book a date with 'Lias' Mother!

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    "If Unique Is What You Seek"

    Storytelling ~ Theater ~ Language Art - Music ~ History ~ Wellness 

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