November 13-19, 2003

mixpicks

Sixth Annual Marian Anderson Awards Dinner, Gala and Concert for Oprah Winfrey

by A.D. Amorosi

For Philadelphia, there's been no more star-spangled prize than its Marian Anderson Award. Through previous years, it has hooked up Elizabeth Taylor, Harry Belafonte and Gregory Peck for their commitment to change, humanitarianism and empowerment in the name of this city's most divine, enabling presence -- the late, great socio-conscious opera singer (don't say diva) Anderson. The last few years have seen the award committee play Six Degrees of Separation: 2001 MAA winner Quincy Jones produced The Color Purple, which starred Danny Glover, who got one in 2002 and who appeared in Beloved, which was directed by MAA Selection Panel Chairman Jonathan Demme. So it's only fitting that its sixth recipient would be the link in this chain, Beloved and The Color Purple actress Oprah Winfrey. I can live with Winfrey getting an MAA (though having Lionel Richie be the guy singing while you get one is simply yeeesh). There are probably few women in public life as visibly and viably dedicated to uplifting her gender or her race than Winfrey. But, in Six Degree speak, if Dr. Phil gets one, start screaming.

Sixth Annual Marian Anderson Awards Dinner, Gala and Concert for Oprah Winfrey, Tue., Nov. 18, sold out, Kimmel Center, 260 S. Broad St., 215-683-2094.

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