Daytona Beach, FL – Gdavis Productions and the Petrock College of Health Sciences’ Dept. of Aging Studies in association with the Mike CURB Institute, bring the award-winning stage play “Mama’s Girls” to Bethune-Cookman University. “Mama’s Girls” addresses the many challenges faced by family members who care for their aging parents and loved ones. The production tells the story of five sisters living in five different cities who are forced to come together to take care of their aging mother. “Mama’s Girls” is supported by AARP’s Prepare to Care program, an initiative that helps caregivers to determine what they’ll need in their new roles, how to assemble an action plan for providing care for the recipient and themselves, and how to access care giving support services in the community. The show is at 4:30 p.m., Sunday, June 28th at the B-CU Performing Arts Center (698 West International Speedway Blvd. Daytona Beach). Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster or at the box office.
“Mama’s Girls” has been touring since 2011 and has received rave reviews. The production was written and directed by award-winning playwright Garrett Davis, CEO and Founder of Gdavis Productions. The play, which is co-produced by AARP, has been presented over 100 times in 20 states and in more than 40 cities. “This project is very special to me. AARP understands the importance of care giving and the needs of those who provide the care,” says Davis. “Informing audiences through the performing arts during this tour has had a very positive impact on people, especially in the minority community. I am very pleased and honored to present one of my productions at B-CU and look forward to bringing others to the campus and surrounding community.”
Dr. Vanessa Jones Briscoe, Department Chair for Aging Studies at B-CU, states that the university will be working closely with AARP to model these programs for the caregiver support group(s) that will be held on campus. Briscoe acknowledges that issues of care giving have grown exponentially with the increased numbers of caregivers. There are more than 44 million men and women in the United States who provide free care to a family member, friend or neighbor. Education programs that provide solutions to address care giving and caregiver burdens are of national public health concern. “We hope that hosting events like this one will help people to understand that care giving issues critically impact our communities and the caregivers really do need our support,” says Dr. Vanessa Jones Briscoe.
For more information about “Mama’s Girls”, please call (386)481-2385. For media inquiries, please contact Keisha Boyd – boydk@cookman.edu or (386)214-3653.
About Bethune-Cookman University:
Founded in 1904 by Mary McLeod Bethune, Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) today sustains her legacy of faith, scholarship and service through its relationship with the United Methodist Church and its commitment to academic excellence and civic engagement. B-CU offers baccalaureate degrees in 37 majors through six academic schools – Arts & Humanities; Business; Education; Nursing; Science, Engineering and Mathematics; and Social Sciences – and maintains intercollegiate athletic programs and instrumental and choral groups that have achieved national recognition. Located in Daytona Beach, B-CU is one of three private historically black colleges in the state of Florida. The institution boasts a diverse and international faculty and student body of nearly 4,000. www.cookman.edu.
