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Black Theatre

The rich tradition and current state of Black Theatre is explored in this content, including discussions analyzing contemporary work and pieces honoring trailblazers. Consider starting with the Daughters of Lorraine podcast, the Journal series on the state of Black theatre, or the Journal series on Black women in the performing arts.

The Latest

The New Black Fest
Video
The New Black Fest
A festival curated by Keith Josef Adkins on Unapologetic Humanity and Unapologetic Accountability at the Segal Center
Monday 22 April 2024
New York
The Virtuosity of Black Storytelling with Tarell Alvin McCraney
Podcast
The Virtuosity of Black Storytelling with Tarell Alvin McCraney
by Jordan Ealey, Leticia Ridley, Tarell Alvin McCraney
6 March 2024
Opening the Channel with Masi Asare
Podcast
Opening the Channel with Masi Asare
by Masi Asare, Leticia Ridley, Jordan Ealey
28 February 2024
a large group of actors on an outdoor stage
Shakespeare in Black with Renea Brown
Podcast

Shakespeare in Black with Renea Brown

Daughters of Lorraine Podcast Season 2 Episode 3

7 October 2020

Daughters of Lorraine Podcast hosts Jordan Ealey and Leticia Ridley interview actress Renea Brown on the interactions between Black theatre and Shakespeare, as well as her experience as a Black Shakespearean performer.

black woman in dress stands with arms out in front of uniformed police officers
Black and Blue 2020: Art / Activism / Transformation
black and white photo of yvonne
The Yvonne Bechet Theatre Project
Junebug Productions
Video

Black and Blue 2020: Art / Activism / Transformation

Artists, activists, and the New Orleans Police Monitor reflect on the life of Yvonne Bechet and using stories to build social movements

Monday 5 October 2020
New Orleans, Louisiana

The Yvonne Bechet Theatre Project presented a panel discussing issues raised in the play Black and Blue livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 5 October at 12 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 2 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 3 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

two actors onstage with five actors' shadows behind them
Remembering The Death of the Last Black Man
Essay

Remembering The Death of the Last Black Man

On How Black Theatre Is Essential

5 October 2020

Dr. Ayshia E. Stephenson revisits the 2016 Signature Theatre production of The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World, which she believes stands as a testament to why Black theatre matters and is essential to resisting white supremacy.

black and white photo of policewoman with text black and blue
A Performance of Black and Blue
black and white photo of yvonne
The Yvonne Bechet Theatre Project
Video

A Performance of Black and Blue

Inspired by the real life and impact of Yvonne Bechet, who served as one of New Orleans’ first Black female police officers

Saturday 3 October 2020
United States

The Yvonne Bechet Theatre Project presented a reading of Black and Blue, a full-length play, livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday 3 October at 12 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 2 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 3 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

headshots of participants and title of event.
Banned Together 2020: Banned BIPOC Writers
Dramatists Guild Logo.
Dramatists Guild
red background with white text D L D F
The Dramatists Legal Defense Fund (DLDF)
Video

Banned Together 2020: Banned BIPOC Writers

Highlighting writers who have been censored and cut from the theatrical canon due to America's racial prejudices  

Thursday 1 October and Friday 2 October 2020
United States

The Dramatists Guild Legal Defense Fund (DLDF) and The Dramatists Guild Political Engagement Initiative presented Banned Together 2020 livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 1 October and Friday 2 October 2020 at 12 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 2 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 3 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

A Black person holding a Vote sign in front of a US flag.
Regina Taylor's VOTE!
Video

Regina Taylor's VOTE!

Presented by The Oaks Collective in collaboration with Regina Taylor. Short plays and conversation exploring the African-American community's relationship with the political process.

Thursday 1 October 2020
USA

The Oaks Collective presented the livestreamed of Regina Taylor's VOTE! event — which included short plays and conversation exploring the African-American community's relationship with the political process.

"Unbought & Unbossed"
National Black Theatre logo.
National Black Theatre
Video

"Unbought & Unbossed"

Part One: The History of Black Women as Political Drivers ft. Shola Lynch, Candice Hoyes, and Val Jeanty

Thursday 1 October 2020
United States

NBT @ HOME presented an "Unbought & Unbossed" Conversation livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 1 October at 3 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 5 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 6 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

Collage of photos of people including James Baldin, Matthew Shepard, event title and subtitle.
A reading of Strange Fruit, Part II by Jon Bastian
LA Writers Center (LAWC)
Video

A reading of Strange Fruit, Part II by Jon Bastian

with LA Writers Center's "Breathe" online play reading series

Saturday 26 September 2020
United States

LA Writers Center presented a reading of Strange Fruit: Part II by Jon Bastian as a part of their "Breathe" online play reading series livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday 26 September 2020 at 11 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 1 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 2 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

blue graphic of actor onstage against yellow background
(Re)Imagine Black Theater (ASL interpreted and live captioned)
Seattle Rep
Video

(Re)Imagine Black Theater (ASL interpreted and live captioned)

A series by Seattle Rep that brings artists and community leaders together

Thursday 24 September 2020
United States

Seattle Rep presented (Re)Imagine Black Theater livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 24 September 2020 at 5 p.m. PDT (Seattle, UTC-7) / 6 p.m. MDT (Denver, UTC-6) / 7 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 8 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

three actors onstage
The Black in Black Musical Theatre
Podcast

The Black in Black Musical Theatre

Daughters of Lorraine Podcast Season 2 Episode 2

23 September 2020

In this episode of the Daughters of Lorraine Podcast, hosts Jordan Ealey and Leticia Ridley discuss "What is a Black musical?" using James Baldwin's Amen Corner and Angelica Chéri's Gun and Powder.

artists onstage under green light
A Performance of Re-Re-Generation
black background with white text culturehub la
CultureHub LA
Video

A Performance of Re-Re-Generation

Re-imagining performances originally created for Re-Fest 2020, CultureHub’s annual festival that brings together artists, technologists, and activists

Saturday 19 September 2020
Los Angeles, California

CultureHub LA presented a performance Re-Re-Generation livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday 19 September 2020 at 7 p.m. PDT (Los Angeles, UTC -7) / 9 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 10 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

artist headshots
Psalm's Salons at Studio
black text studio theatre
Studio Theatre
Video

Psalm's Salons at Studio

A virtual dance party with conversation in collaboration with theatre-maker and emcee Psalmayene 24

Friday 18 September
United States

Studio Theatre presented Psalm's Salons at Studio livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 18 September at 2 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 4 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 5 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

poster with pictures of Samantha Figgins, Antoine Hunter, and the event description text.
#DeafWoke: An Evening with Samantha Figgins
Urban Jazz Dance Company logo.
Urban Jazz Dance Company
Video

#DeafWoke: An Evening with Samantha Figgins

Samantha shares her #DeafWoke journey as a Black Hard of Hearing woman and professional dancer

Thursday 17 September 2020
United States

Urban Jazz Dance Company presented #DeafWoke: An Evening w/ Samantha Figgins livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 17 September 2020 at 4 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 6 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 7 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

Poster with headshots of speakers that says Black Live Matter.
To the Arts and beyond: What Does It Mean to Support Black Lives Matter? (ASL interpreted)
Round multicolored logo
Arts Connect International
orange square with white CELC text
CELC
Video

To the Arts and beyond: What Does It Mean to Support Black Lives Matter? (ASL interpreted)

A Cultural Equity Learning Community panel featuring: Sadada Jackson, Martin Henson, Dr. Marta Moreno Vega, and Michael Bobbit, with music by Precious Perez

Thursday 10 September 2020
United States

The Cultural Equity Learning Community (CELC), an initiative of Arts Connect International, presented To the arts & beyond: What does it mean to support Black Lives Matter? which livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 10 September 2020 at 3 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 5 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 6 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

actors on stage with text PLAYS TO PROGRESS
Plays to Progress with Cori Thomas
blue text Eugene O'Neill Theater Center
The O'Neill
Video

Plays to Progress with Cori Thomas

A brief performance followed by a conversation about the resonance of Lockdown, a work by Cori Thomas launched at the O’Neill

Wednesday 9 September 2020
United States

Eugene O'Neill Theater Center presented Plays to Progress with Cori Thomas livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 9 September at 3 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 5 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 6 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

black and white photo of a large group with one person at a microphone
Beyond the Raisin: The Incredible Brief Life of Lorraine Hansberry
Podcast

Beyond the Raisin: The Incredible Brief Life of Lorraine Hansberry

Daughters of Lorraine Podcast Season 2 Episode 1

9 September 2020

The Daughters of Lorraine Podcast returns for another episode where hosts Jordan Ealey and Leticia Ridely discuss Lorraine Hansberry's life, legacy, and other works of theatre and literature.

three people, text: "Day of the Ancestors: Festival of Masks. A Celebration of Black Joy. Virtual Event"
The 10th Annual Leimert Park Day of the Ancestors: Festival of Masks
Colorful intersecting circles with text la commons
LA Commons
Video

The 10th Annual Leimert Park Day of the Ancestors: Festival of Masks

A Celebration of Black Joy presented by LA Commons and the Leimert Park Art Walk

Sunday 30 August 2020
Los Angeles, California

LA Commons presented the 10th Annual Leimert Park Day of the Ancestors: Festival of Masks livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Sunday 30 August 2020 at 2 p.m. PDT (Los Angeles, UTC-7) / 4 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 5 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

black and white poster of historical figures' faces
A reading of Strange Fruit, Part 1 by Jon Bastian
LA Writers Center (LAWC)
Video

A reading of Strange Fruit, Part 1 by Jon Bastian

with LA Writers Center's "Breathe" online play reading series

Saturday 29 August 2020
United States

LA Writers Center presented a reading of Strange Fruit by Jon Bastian as a part of their "Breathe" online play reading series livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv beginning Saturday 29 August 2020 at 11 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 1 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 2 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

actors onstage
Dismantling Anti-Black Language
Essay

Dismantling Anti-Black Language

27 August 2020

Holly Derr interviews Lavina Jadhwani about the document she created called Dismantling Anti-Black Linguistic Racism in Theatre, which offers several examples of potentially anti-Black language, such as Ethiopian, master, and minstrel; their use in Shakespeare; why they might be problematic; and possible substitutions.

zoom video chat of several people
Melted Snow on Virtual Stages
Essay

Melted Snow on Virtual Stages

26 August 2020

Seattle-based Jasmine Mahmoud talks to New York–based Autumn Knight about Knight’s recent performance Our Water is Melted Snow, geography and audiences, and staging and presence across screens.

three people standing/sitting in a parking lot in front of cars with ribbons on sticks
A Time of Interrogation
Essay

A Time of Interrogation

27 July 2020

Teresa Coleman Wash reflects on how the current state of affairs has fueled an urgency to interrogate all systems of oppression and argues that it’s past time to stop holding Eurocentric theatres up as the pinnacle of success.

Event details and headshots of the talk participants.
The Download
National Black Theatre logo.
National Black Theatre
Video

The Download

A conversation with National Black Theatre's creative team to talk about current events, uplift the legacy of NBT, reflect on Founder’s Month programming, and share visions for the future

Thursday 16 July 2020
Harlem NY United States

National Black Theatre presented The Download livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 16 July 2020 at 11:30 a.m. HST (Honolulu, UTC -10) / 1:30 p.m. AKDT (Juneau, UTC -8) / 2:30 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 4:30 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 5:30 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

five people posing for a photo
Not Another Memory Play
Essay

Not Another Memory Play

Remember2019

16 July 2020

Ashley Teague, in partnership with Carlos Sirah, Arielle Julia Brown, Mauricio Tafur Salgado, and Yazmany Arboleda, talk about their eight-year durational, grassroots engagement with the Black community of the Arkansas Delta, Remember2019.

Text: Black Made That, and a headshot of Shá Cage
BLACK MADE THAT (Live-captioned)
orange background with white text P W C
Playwrights' Center
Video

BLACK MADE THAT (Live-captioned)

A Community Salon to Center Blackness, Joy, and Truth-telling

Tuesday 14 July 2020
Minneapolis MN United States

Playwrights' Center presented BLACK MADE THAT livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 14 July 2020 at 5 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 6 p.m. MDT (Denver, UTC -6) / 7 p.m. CDT (Minneapolis, UTC -5) / 8 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

event participant headshots, and event details.
The Revival Is Coming
National Black Theatre logo.
National Black Theatre
Video

The Revival Is Coming

A symposium of queer Black community leaders who are dedicated to radical healing through communal acts of jubilation

Thursday 9 July 2020
Harlem NY United States

National Black Theatre presented The Revival Is Coming livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 9 July 2020 at 11:30 a.m. HST (Honolulu, UTC -10) / 1:30 p.m. AKDT (Juneau, UTC -8) / 2:30 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 4:30 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 5:30 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).