“American Revival” Brings Music, Film, and Community Spirit to Montgomery
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WAKA) — A new traveling festival celebrating art, community, and hope made a stop in Montgomery on Sunday, drawing crowds to the Davis Theatre for an afternoon of world-class performances and heartfelt storytelling.
The event, titled American Revival, blended music, film, and community engagement to create what organizers called “a shared vision for why and how we matter to each other.”
Among the performers were world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, acclaimed singer-songwriter Valerie June, and award-winning actress Alfre Woodard. The festival was created by filmmaker Nicholas Ma, son of Yo-Yo Ma, who shared his vision for bringing people together through the arts.
“This project is really about reflecting the community that we’re in,” said Joyce Vaughn of Map 360. “We have local artists and international touring artists here to paint a love story back to Montgomery. It’s a community gathering, a celebration, and a part of a national tour sharing a message of connection and hope. We’re just so excited they’re here.”
The festival continues Monday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.in the Capri Theatre parking lot in Cloverdale. The Helpers Tent will transform the Capri Theatre parking lot into a celebration of the Montgomery community. Inspired by Fred Rogers’ call to “look for the helpers,” it will feature local organizations, everyday heroes, and interactive activities for all ages. The event is free and open to the public.
On Monday evening at 7 p.m., the Capri Theatre will also host a special screening of Leap of Faith, Nicholas Ma’s new documentary. The film follows 12 Christian leaders brought together by Michael Gulker of The Colossian Forum as they wrestle with divisive issues and explore whether people can disagree and still belong to one another in a polarized world. Tickets are free and available here.
