Jazz for Ward today

Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

The Jazz For The Ward concert scheduled for the Institute of Jamaica's Lecture Hall today, is the first in a fund-raising series aimed at restoring one of Kingston's best known landmarks.

Singer Myrna Hague will perform along with saxophonist/flautist Nicholas Laraque and pianist Dr Carol Ball. The show is scheduled to start at 11 a.m.

Vivian Crawford, executive director at the Institute of Jamaica and treasurer of the Ward Theatre Foundation, told The Sunday Gleaner that the building's interior is dilapidated. He said the foundation hopes to raise US$9 million to refurbish the entire structure.

"If the Ward were to collapse, part of Jamaican heritage would be gone," Crawford said. "Two political parties were formed there. Paul Robeson, Marian Anderson and Bob Marley performed there, so we cannot let it go," he added.

The concert will be held under the patronage of Lenora Rueda, the Mexican Ambassador to Jamaica.

Located in downtown Kingston, the Ward Theatre was donated to the city of Kingston by Colonel C.J. Ward in 1912. Next year marks the centenary of that presentation and Crawford says a number of events are planned to mark the occasion.

National monument

Fund-raising activities are led by Ruby Martin, chairman of the Ward Theatre Foundation. The Ward was declared a national monument in January 2000.

Some of the most significant events in Jamaican history took place at the Ward. The People's National Party and the Jamaica Labour Party were officially launched there in 1938 and 1943, respectively.

The Ward Theatre also hosted the annual pantomime for many years before being moved to the Little Theatre. A four-member staff currently oversees the theatre.