Arizona PBS, ASU Gammage and ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication will host a dynamic event, “Past Connections That Bind Us All: A Conversation with Henry Louis Gates Jr.” on Saturday, April 30 at 7 p.m. at ASU Gammage. Presented with support from SRP, the 90-minute event will feature Dr. Gates offering behind-the-scenes details about the discovery process for celebrity guests of “Finding Your Roots,” his successful PBS series which is now in its eighth season.
“Our lives are constructed by stories, which are shaped by our families, experiences and surroundings. The collective of these stories is what shapes the American experience and our overall identity as a people,” said Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. “I look forward to visiting ASU to discuss that collective identity and the connections that bind us all.”
Members of Arizona PBS can purchase event tickets with a 15 percent discount, starting April 1 as part of an exclusive pre-sale. General public sales begin April 4. For seats on the main level, ticket prices range from $30-$70 plus fees. Tickets for balcony seats are available, however the Arizona PBS member discount is not applicable for these seats. The balcony seat ticket price is $5.50 plus fees for ASU students and $20 plus fees for non-students. To purchase tickets, visit www.asugammage.com.
“We’re excited to welcome Dr. Gates to ASU and look forward to an evening of enlightening discussion about our roots and how the past continues to impact our identity today,” said Dr. Battinto L. Batts Jr., dean of the Cronkite School.
In addition to serving as host of PBS’ “Finding Your Roots,” Dr. Gates, an acclaimed historian, is the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and director of the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University. An Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, literary scholar, journalist, cultural critic and institution builder, Dr. Gates has authored or co-authored 24 books and produced 21 documentary films.
“As the host of one of PBS’ flagship programs, we’re delighted to welcome Dr. Henry Louis Gates to Arizona, and we’re excited to bring this engagement opportunity to our loyal members,” said Arizona PBS General Manager Adrienne Fairwell. “As Arizona’s largest public media station, a key component of our mission is to facilitate community discussions around important issues facing our state and the nation, and this event will help us do just that.”
Dr. Gates will participate in a Q&A session comprised of questions submitted by Arizona PBS viewers and members of the community. Community members are invited to submit questions that will be showcased during the event’s Q&A segment in the form of video messages. To make a video submission, click here.
For more information about Dr. Gates, click here. For more on the event, view the video below:
About Arizona PBS
Arizona PBS is one of the nation’s leading public media organizations, with four broadcast channels and a growing array of digital platforms. A trusted community resource for 60 years, Arizona PBS fosters lifelong learning through quality programming, in-depth news coverage and critical educational outreach services. It is one of the country’s largest public television stations, reaching 80 percent of Arizona homes and 1.9 million households each week. Arizona PBS has been part of ASU since the station launched in 1961. Learn more at https://azpbs.org.
About ASU Gammage
For more than 50 years, ASU Gammage has been a top cultural destination in the Valley. The Frank Lloyd Wright designed performing arts center located on the Tempe campus of Arizona State University is one of the largest university-based presenters of performing arts in the world and top touring market for Broadway. Home to the Desert Financial Broadway Across America – Arizona and Beyond series, the mission of Connecting Communities™ goes beyond the stage and programs and impacts the community through shared experiences in the arts. asugammage.com
About the Cronkite School
The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University is widely recognized as one of the nation’s premier professional journalism programs and has received international acclaim for its innovative use of the “teaching hospital” model. Rooted in the time-honored values that characterize its namesake — accuracy, responsibility, objectivity, integrity — the school fosters journalistic excellence and ethics in both the classroom and in its 13 professional programs that fully immerse students in the practice of journalism and related fields. Arizona PBS, one of the nation’s largest public television stations, is part of Cronkite, making it the largest media outlet operated by a journalism school in the world. Learn more at cronkite.asu.edu.