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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

Creating a Space for Black Theatre Audiences
Podcast
Creating a Space for Black Theatre Audiences
With Addae Moon
by Jordan Ealey, Leticia Ridley, Addae Moon
29 June 2022
Singin' a Black Girl's Song- Ntozake Shange and for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf
Podcast
Singin' a Black Girl's Song- Ntozake Shange and for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf
by Leticia Ridley, Jordan Ealey
22 June 2022
Livestreaming a Conversation: #DeafWoke with Tanya and Tanesha Ausby
Video
Livestreaming a Conversation: #DeafWoke with Tanya and Tanesha Ausby
#DeafWoke is a Virtual Consciousness-raising, Engaging Online Talk Show, Led by Black and Native American Deaf Host Mr. Antoine Hunter PurpleFireCrow
Tuesday 14 June 2022
United States
Creating a Space for Black Theatre Audiences
Podcast

Creating a Space for Black Theatre Audiences

With Addae Moon

29 June 2022

This episode is an interview with Addae Moon, the associate artistic director at Theatrical Outfit in Atlanta, Georgia. We discuss his journey as a theatre artist; his playwright development lab, Hush Harbor Lab; and his own artistry and creativity.

Singin' a Black Girl's Song- Ntozake Shange and for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf
Podcast

Singin' a Black Girl's Song- Ntozake Shange and for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf

22 June 2022

This episode explores the recent revival of Ntozake Shange’s for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf, directed and choreographed by Camille A. Brown. Hosts Leticia Ridley and Jordan Ealey contextualize the production, its ongoing relevance and legacy, and its resonance in Black feminist theatre, dance, and performance.

2022 TCG Conference in Pittsburgh event poster.
2022 TCG National Conference: Pittsburgh
orange circle with T C G text
TCG
Video

2022 TCG National Conference: Pittsburgh

Redefining Our Art. Transforming Our Practices. Tending to Our People.

Thursday 16 June to Saturday 18 June 2022
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Theatre Communications Group (TCG) presented the 2022 TCG National Conference: Pittsburgh livestreaming on the commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network from Thursday 16 June to Saturday 18 June 2022.

event poster for deaf woke with tanesha and tanya ausby.
Livestreaming a Conversation: #DeafWoke with Tanya and Tanesha Ausby
Urban Jazz Dance Company logo.
Urban Jazz Dance Company
Video

Livestreaming a Conversation: #DeafWoke with Tanya and Tanesha Ausby

#DeafWoke is a Virtual Consciousness-raising, Engaging Online Talk Show, Led by Black and Native American Deaf Host Mr. Antoine Hunter PurpleFireCrow

Tuesday 14 June 2022
United States

Antoine Hunter presents #DeafWoke with Tanya and Tanesha Ausby livestreaming on the commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Tuesday 14 June 2022 at 5 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 7 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 8 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

#DeafWoke with John Autry II
Urban Jazz Dance Company logo.
Urban Jazz Dance Company
Video

#DeafWoke with John Autry II

#DeafWoke is a Virtual Consciousness-raising, Engaging Online Talk Show, Led by Black and Native American Deaf Host Mr. Antoine Hunter Purple Fire Crow

Friday 20 May 2022
United States

Antoine Hunter presents #DeafWoke with John Autry II livestreaming on the commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Friday 20 May 2022 at 5 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 7 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 8 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

Climate Emergency Series Ending
The Corpo Quebrada and Ecopoetics of the Commons / O Corpo Quebrada e as Ecopoéticas dos Comuns
Essay

The Corpo Quebrada and Ecopoetics of the Commons / O Corpo Quebrada e as Ecopoéticas dos Comuns

22 April 2022

Gabriel Augusto Liparini Queiroz sits down with Adilson Siqueira, Aneliza Rodrigues Prado, and Patrick Veniali da Silva to discuss their work at the Laboratory of Ecopoetics (ECOLAB) at the Federal University of São João del-Rei. They share their research on the concept of the corpo quebrada—literally the “bent body”—which responds to ecological crisis by embodying resilience and flexibility.

Four people kneeling around bowls of water.
Teatro Preto do Candomblé’: The Art of Eco-Reconnection
Essay

Teatro Preto do Candomblé’: The Art of Eco-Reconnection

21 April 2022

Onisajé shares the creative process of Teatro Preto do Candomblé, which trains actors using the rituals and liturgy of Candomblé as a method of actor training. Through immersion in this African diasporic religion, Teatro Preto do Candomblé’s methods center reciprocal relationships with the environment and activate individuals’ connection to their Blackness.

Event poster for deaf woke with Kimberly Snipe.
Livestreaming a Conversation: #DeafWoke with Kimberly Snipe
Urban Jazz Dance Company logo.
Urban Jazz Dance Company
Video

Livestreaming a Conversation: #DeafWoke with Kimberly Snipe

#DeafWoke is a Virtual Consciousness-raising, Engaging Online Talk Show, Led by Black and Native American Deaf Host Mr. Antoine Hunter PurpleFireCrow

Saturday 16 April 2022
United States

Antoine Hunter presents #DeafWoke with Kimberly Snipe livestreaming on the commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Saturday 16 April 2022 at 10 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 12 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 1 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

event poster for deaf woke with J C Smith.
#DeafWoke with JC Smith
Urban Jazz Dance Company logo.
Urban Jazz Dance Company
Video

#DeafWoke with JC Smith

#DeafWoke is a Virtual Consciousness-raising, Engaging Online Talk Show, Led by Black and Native American Deaf Host Mr. Antoine Hunter PurpleFireCrow

Thursday 14 April 2022
United States

Antoine Hunter presents #DeafWoke with JC Smith livestreamed on the commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Thursday 14 March 2022 at 4 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 6 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 7 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

event poster for # Deaf Woke with Ms. Melisha "Mimi" Battle.
#DeafWoke with Ms. Melisha "Mimi" Battle
Urban Jazz Dance Company logo.
Urban Jazz Dance Company
Video

#DeafWoke with Ms. Melisha "Mimi" Battle

#DeafWoke is a Virtual Consciousness-raising, Engaging Online Talk Show, Led by Black and Native American Deaf Host Mr. Antoine Hunter PurpleFireCrow

Thursday 7 April 2022
United States

Antoine Hunter presented #DeafWoke with Ms. Melisha "Mimi" Battle livestreaming on the commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Thursday 7 April 2022 at 4 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 6 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 7 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

event poster for talleres for dreaming episode 2.
An invitation to dance, cuz we free
cara mia logo.
Cara Mía Theatre
Video

An invitation to dance, cuz we free

An Artist Talk by Marguerite Angelica Monique

Tuesday 15 March 2022
United States

Cara Mía Theatre’s Mellon Playwright in Residence Virginia Grise presented Talleres for Dreaming: Episode 2 livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network on Tuesday 15 March 2022 at 4 p.m. PST (San Francisco, UTC -8) / 6 p.m. CST (Chicago, UTC -6) / 7 p.m. EST (New York, UTC -5).

event poster for # Deaf Woke with Beautiful the Artist.
#DeafWoke with Beautiful the Artist
Urban Jazz Dance Company logo.
Urban Jazz Dance Company
Video

#DeafWoke with Beautiful the Artist

#DeafWoke is a Virtual Consciousness-raising, Engaging Online Talk Show, Led by Black and Native American Deaf Host Mr. Antoine Hunter PurpleFireCrow

Thursday 3 March 2022
United States

Antoine Hunter presented #DeafWoke with Beautiful the Artist livestreaming on the commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Thursday 3 March 2022 at 4 p.m. PST (San Francisco, UTC -8) / 6 p.m. CST (Chicago, UTC -6) / 7 p.m. EST (New York, UTC -5).

Gender Euphoria teaser image.
Gender Euphoria, Episode 3: Building Black Queer Worlds Onstage and Behind the Scenes
Podcast

Gender Euphoria, Episode 3: Building Black Queer Worlds Onstage and Behind the Scenes

With Azure D. Osborne-Lee

28 February 2022

Gender Euphoria, the Podcast, host Nicolas Shannon Savard sits down with playwright Azure D. Osborne-Lee to talk about their play, Crooked Parts; building Black queer worlds onstage; and the mentorship, community-building, and production practices that go into bringing those worlds to life.

event poster for deaf woke with erin phillips.
#DeafWoke with Erin Phillips AKA DM3
Urban Jazz Dance Company logo.
Urban Jazz Dance Company
Video

#DeafWoke with Erin Phillips AKA DM3

#DeafWoke is a Virtual Consciousness-raising, Engaging Online Talk Show, Led by Black and Native American Deaf Host Mr. Antoine Hunter PurpleFireCrow

Tuesday 15 February 2022
United States

Antoine Hunter presented #DeafWoke with Erin Phillips AKA DM3 livestreaming on the commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Tuesday 15 February 2022 at 5 p.m. PST (San Francisco, UTC -8) / 7 p.m. CST (Chicago, UTC -6) / 8 p.m. EST (New York, UTC -5).

event poster for # Deaf Woke with Khyiana Tate.
#DeafWoke with Khyiana Tate
Urban Jazz Dance Company logo.
Urban Jazz Dance Company
Video

#DeafWoke with Khyiana Tate

#DeafWoke is a Virtual Consciousness-raising, Engaging Online Talk Show, Led by Black and Native American Deaf Host Mr. Antoine Hunter PurpleFireCrow

Saturday 12 February 2022
United States

Antoine Hunter presented #DeafWoke with Khyiana Tate livestreaming on the commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Saturday 12 February 2022 at 10 a.m. PST (San Francisco, UTC -8) / 12 p.m. CST (Chicago, UTC -6) / 1 p.m. EST (New York, UTC -5).

event poster for deaf woke with Queen Foreverrr.
#DeafWoke with Queen Foreverrr
Urban Jazz Dance Company logo.
Urban Jazz Dance Company
Video

#DeafWoke with Queen Foreverrr

#DeafWoke is a Virtual Consciousness-raising, Engaging Online Talk Show, Led by Black and Native American Deaf Host Mr. Antoine Hunter PurpleFireCrow

Friday 11 February 2022
United States

Antoine Hunter presented #DeafWoke with Queen Foreverrr, Sheena Lyles livestreaming on the commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Friday 11 February at 5 p.m. PST (San Francisco, UTC -8) / 7 p.m. CST (Chicago, UTC -6) / 8 p.m. EST (New York, UTC -5).

Three people on stage, one standing directly under a spotlight.
A Song of Ourselves: Playing out the Pandemic in The Bahamas
Essay

A Song of Ourselves: Playing out the Pandemic in The Bahamas

1 February 2022

Nicolette Bethel reflects on the creation and significance of Competent Authority, a play that focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic in The Bahamas.

Close on the faces of three actors staring into the camera.
The Fight for the Right to Vote
Essay

The Fight for the Right to Vote

13 January 2022

Carlyle Brown’s Down in Mississippi is a celebration of a movement that gave birth to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Brown sat down with Todd London in October 2020 to discuss the creative process, historical context, and contemporary resonance of his play.

Several people dancing together in a room.
Thinking Through Racism: Nigerian Theatre’s Response
Essay

Thinking Through Racism: Nigerian Theatre’s Response

11 January 2022

Eseovwe Emakunu sits down with theatre practitioner Israel Wekpe to discuss how he and other Nigerian theatre artists use theatre to address racism and discrimination.

event poster for deaf woke with jermaine williams.
#DeafWoke with Jermaine Williams
Urban Jazz Dance Company logo.
Urban Jazz Dance Company
Video

#DeafWoke with Jermaine Williams

#DeafWoke is a Virtual Consciousness-raising, Engaging Online Talk Show, Led by Black and Native American Deaf Host Mr. Antoine Hunter PurpleFireCrow

Thursday 2 December 2021
United States

Antoine Hunter presented #DeafWoke with Jermaine Williams livestreaming on the commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Thursday 2 December 2021 at 4 p.m. PST (San Francisco, UTC -8) / 6 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -6) / 7 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -5).

event poster for deaf woke with doctor Liann Obsborne.
#DeafWoke with Dr. Liann Obsborne
Urban Jazz Dance Company logo.
Urban Jazz Dance Company
Video

#DeafWoke with Dr. Liann Obsborne

#DeafWoke is a Virtual Consciousness-raising, Engaging Online Talk Show, Led by Black and Native American Deaf Host Mr. Antoine Hunter PurpleFireCrow

Tuesday 23 November 2021
United States

Antoine Hunter presented #DeafWoke with Dr. Liann Obsborne livestreaming on the commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Tuesday 23 November 2021 at 5 p.m. PST (San Francisco, UTC -8) / 7 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -6) / 8 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -5).

Seven Black actors performing on stage accompanied by the band.
The Shakespeare In Paradise Festival
Essay

The Shakespeare In Paradise Festival

A Celebration of Bahamian Theatre and Performance

23 November 2021

Robert Hubbard sits down with Dr. Nicolette Bethel and Philip A. Burrows to discuss their creation of the annual Shakespeare in Paradise Festival in the Bahamas.

5 Actors on stage looking at a TV Screen. Four actors wear schoolgirl uniforms. One actor stands wearing a green blouse one and skirt
To Be a Long Hauler; or, If We Build It We Can Thrive
Essay

To Be a Long Hauler; or, If We Build It We Can Thrive

16 November 2021

Actress and diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant Tania Richard gets candid about her experience having long-haul COVID as a theatremaker and offers tips on how to create more inclusive and equitable rehearsal spaces.

Black and white photo from 1922 of Howard Players actors.
Proclaiming Presence from the Washington Stage
CITD
Video

Proclaiming Presence from the Washington Stage

Exploring How Theatre Offered a Path to Recognition for African Americans, Roman Catholic Clerics, Regional Theatre Enthusiasts, and Community Activists throughout the Twentieth Century

Monday 8 November 2021
Washington, DC

The Center for International Theater Development (CIDT) presented a conversation: Proclaiming Presence from the Washington Stage livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 8 November 2021.

event poster for deaf woke with armani lawrence.
#DeafWoke with Armani Lawrence
Urban Jazz Dance Company logo.
Urban Jazz Dance Company
Video

#DeafWoke with Armani Lawrence

#DeafWoke is a Virtual Consciousness-raising, Engaging Online Talk Show, Led by Black and Native American Deaf Host Mr. Antoine Hunter PurpleFireCrow

Thursday 4 November 2021
United States

Antoine Hunter presented #DeafWoke with Armani Lawrence livestreaming on the commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Thursday 4 November 2021 at 4 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 6 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 7 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).