New Orleans, La.— On Sunday, March 27, 2022, Xavier University of Louisiana will host a free screening of “City of a Million Dreams,” an engaging chronicled documentary exploring the history and culture of New Orleans through the performance lens of African American funeral traditions and second-line parades. The event, which includes a pre-screening reception and performance by Xavier professor and renowned clarinetist Dr. Michael White and his quartet, will be held in the Qatar Pharmacy Pavilion Auditorium on the Xavier University campus.

Dr. White, Keller Endowed Chair in the Humanities at Xavier, serves as one of the two protagonists of the film alongside the late blogger, Deb “Big Red” Cotton. Dr. White contributed recorded and original music to the score, which can be heard throughout the production.

Culminating a 25-year effort by award-winning writer and producer Jason Berry, “City of a Million Dreams” offers a unique view of New Orleans through a compelling and haunting examination of the influence that Black performative culture has on the way community members navigate the immediacy of life and death daily. The documentary is an embodiment of the depths in which New Orleans’ history and culture informs the individual and collective understanding in the city of place, spirit and time.

Free and open to the public, the event is sponsored by Xavier’s Keller Endowed Chair’s Office, African American and Diaspora Studies Program, Department of Music, the Dean’s Office in the College of Arts and Sciences and Performance Studies Lab. All attendees must wear a mask indoors in compliance with Xavier’s COVID-19 guidelines.

In addition to the pre-screening reception and performance, audience members will have the opportunity to participate in a post-screening discussion with Berry, Dr. White, editor Tim Watson, choreographer Monique Moss, and musician Gregg Stafford. The Sunday program marks the resumption of Xavier University’s Culture of New Orleans Series after a two-year absence due to Covid. For additional information, contact Dr. Michael White at mwhite@xula.edu.

Screening Schedule:

3:00 pm Reception and refreshments Performance by the Dr. Michael White Quartet

4:00 pm Screening of “City of a Million Dreams”

5:30 pm Discussion and audience questions 

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About Xavier University of Louisiana

Xavier University of Louisiana, America’s only historically Black and Catholic University, is ranked among the top three HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities) in the nation. Recognized as a national leader in STEM and health sciences, Xavier produces more African American students who graduate from medical schools each year than any other university in the United States. Additionally, Xavier’s College of Pharmacy is also among the top producers of African American pharmacists in the country. Established in 1925, by Saint Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament as a place for African Americans and Native Americans to receive a quality education, Xavier has since expanded its programs in art, business, education, biological sciences, chemistry, pharmacy and political science. More recent additions in robotics, bioinformatics, engineering, data science, neuroscience and genetics, in addition to new STEM-based master’s programs, have provided Xavier students (2815 undergraduates and 787 graduates) an unbeatable combination of traditional classroom study, hands-on research, service-learning opportunities and life experiences. Xavier students collaborate with world-renowned faculty, who are experts in their fields, to produce award-winning research and notable work. The winning Xavier formula is to provide students with a well-balanced curriculum and an environment that nurtures their intellect and feeds their souls, thereby facilitating a more just and humane society for all. For more information about Xavier University of Louisiana, visit us online at www.xula.edu or contact Regi Reyes at (504) 520-5240 or rreyes@xula.edu.