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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
dat Black Mermaid Man Lady/Oracle Reading
Essay

dat Black Mermaid Man Lady/Oracle Reading

10 April 2017

In this second installment, Playwright Sharon Bridgforth gives a reading based on her performance novel dat Black Mermaid Man Lady.

Blk Womyn
Essay

Blk Womyn

Going Dark!

9 April 2017

The launch of #BLKARTS Presents: Black Womyn Going Dark! a look at the history and legacy of black womyn in the arts.

World Theatre Day: Dreams Deferred: Crossing Continents and Cultures with A Raisin in the Sun
Video

World Theatre Day: Dreams Deferred: Crossing Continents and Cultures with A Raisin in the Sun

Monday 27 March / Tuesday 28 March 2017
South Africa / Sweden / Washington, D.C., US

Celebrate World Theatre Day with performances from South Africa, Sweden, and the US of an American classic A Raisin in the Sun. Livestreamed on HowlRound TV at howlround.tv Monday 27 March at 7:30 p.m. EDT (New York) / 23:30 UTC / Tuesday, March 28 at 12:30 a.m. BST (London) / Tuesday, March 28 at 1:30 a.m. SAST (Johannesburg) / Tuesday, March 28 at 7:30 a.m. CST (Shanghai). 

Panel From the Other Side Of The Table
Video

Panel From the Other Side Of The Table

Monday 13 March 2017
New York, NY, United States

The National Black Theatre presented the panel From the Other Side Of The Table livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 13 March at 7:30 p.m. EDT (New York) / 6:30 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 4:30 p.m. PDT (Los Angeles).

In Twitter, follow @howlroundtv, and use #howlround#OurMyths, and #BlackJoyOurJoy to share your thoughts.

Theatre History Podcast # 19
Podcast

Theatre History Podcast # 19

Jeremy Morris on His New Play About Vaudeville Performer Bert Williams, The Top of Bravery

23 January 2017

Michael Lueger and Jeremy Morris discuss Bert Williams.

2016 NOW AFRICA Playwrights Festival
Essay

2016 NOW AFRICA Playwrights Festival

12 January 2017

Cherry Lou Sy reports on the first day of 2016 NOW AFRICA Playwrights Festival, which included a panel discussion and performances addressing connection across the African Diaspora.

Theatre History Podcast # 17
Podcast

Theatre History Podcast # 17

Dr. Anita Gonzalez Introduces Listeners to 19thcenturyacts.com

9 January 2017

Michael Lueger talks with Dr. Anita Gonzalez about a website that reconstructs historical performances.

The Gathering 2017: Advocating for Black Female Choreographers in the Contemporary Dance World
Video

The Gathering 2017: Advocating for Black Female Choreographers in the Contemporary Dance World

Sunday 8 January 2017
New York City, NY, United States

The Gathering 2017: Advocating for Black Female Choreographers in the Contemporary Dance World—livestreamed from Gibney Dance's Agnes Varis Center for the Performing Arts in New York City on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Sunday 8 January at 3:30 p.m.-6 p.m. PST (San Francisco) / 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m. CST (Chicago) / 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. EST (New York). 

A Staged Reading of Feast
Video

A Staged Reading of Feast

Monday 12 December 2016
New York, NY, United States

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center in New York City presented a staged reading of Feast livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 12 December at 6:30 p.m. EST (New York) / 5:30 p.m. CST (Chicago) / 3:30 p.m. PST (Los Angeles) / 23:30 GMT-UTC (London). In Twitter, follow @HowlRoundTV and @segalcenter and use #howlround.

Every 28 Hours at Faultline Theater in San Francisco
Video

Every 28 Hours at Faultline Theater in San Francisco

Thursday 10 November 2016
San Francisco, CA, United States

FaultLine Theater in collaboration with American Conservatory TheaterCampo SantoCrowded Fire Theater, and Lorraine Hansberry Theatre presented Every 28 Hours, livestreamed on HowlRound TV network on howlround.tv on Thursday 10 November at 7:30 PDT (San Francisco) 9:30 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 10:30 p.m. EDT (New York) / 26:30 GMT / 3:30 a.m. BST (London).

A Performance of Ballot Eats the Bullet
Video

A Performance of Ballot Eats the Bullet

Friday 4 November 2016
Austin, TX, United States

The VORTEX in Austin, Texas presented Ballot Eats the Bullet—6 black women set out to honor the beauty and complexities, heal the trauma, and highlight the joy of what it means to be a black woman in America today, livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Friday 4 November at 9 p.m. EDT (New York) / 8 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 6 p.m. PDT (Los Angeles). Share your thoughts on Twitter and Instagram with #howlround

Every 28 Hours Play Festival
Video

Every 28 Hours Play Festival

Tuesday 18 October and Wednesday 19 October 2016
Bay Area, CA, United States

Every 28 Hours at A.C.T. and Berkeley Rep livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Tuesday 18 October and Wednesday 19 October at 10:00 p.m. EDT (New York) / 9:00 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 7:00 p.m. PDT (Los Angeles). Follow @HowlRoundTV on Twitter and share your thoughts with #howlround.

Lorraine Hansberry
Essay

Lorraine Hansberry

Artist, Public Intellectual, Activist, Writer

30 September 2016

In this final #IdentityWeek blog, Julie McGarvie writes about pioneering playwright Lorraine Hansberry.

Picture from Pryor Truth.
Black Fringe
Essay

Black Fringe

1 September 2016

Jonathan Mandell on the wealth of offerings of African-American theatre at the twentieth New York International Fringe Festival. 

Rage in Context
Essay

Rage in Context

23 July 2016

Play recommendations from playwright Pearl Cleage for contextualizing the current anger felt by many Americans.

Don’t Blame Pregnancy for Shuffle Along Closing
Essay

Don’t Blame Pregnancy for Shuffle Along Closing

18 July 2016

Catherine M. Young reflects on the closing of the musical Shuffle Along. 

How to Survive Predominately White Academic Theatre
Essay

How to Survive Predominately White Academic Theatre

Cause a Disruptive Innovation

15 June 2016

Clinnesha Sibley on the struggle to survive as a black woman theatre artist in academia and coming home.

Pearl Cleage
Essay

Pearl Cleage

Making a Life in the Theatre

4 June 2016

Playwright Pearl Cleage discusses growing up in a politically active family, the challenges faced by actors and directors of color, and the need for truth in theatre.

Black Theatre in Louisville
Essay

Black Theatre in Louisville

11 May 2016

Billy Flood, theatre artist based in Louisville, Kentucky talks to local black theatre artists about the state of black theatre in Lousiville.

Symposium By Any Means (BAM) on Black Contemporary Arts at Carnegie Lecture Hall
Video

Symposium By Any Means (BAM) on Black Contemporary Arts at Carnegie Lecture Hall

Saturday 23 April 2016
Pittsburgh, PA, United States

Kilolo Luckett and Jessica Lynne presented the inaugural By Any Means (BAM) symposium on black contemporary arts livestreamed from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday 23 April from 10 a.m. EDT to 3 p.m. EDT (New York) / 7 a.m. PDT to 12 p.m. PDT (Los Angeles) / 14:00 GMT to 19:00 GMT / 3 p.m. BST to 8 p.m. BST (London). In Twitter, use #howlround and follow @howlroundtv

Discussion: The New Black Fest: Revolutionary Writing
Video

Discussion: The New Black Fest: Revolutionary Writing

Monday 4 April 2016
New York, NY, United States

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center in New York City presented a discussion The New Black Fest: Revolutionary Writing livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 4 April at 3:30 p.m. PDT (San Francisco) / 5:30 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 6:30 p.m. EDT (New York) / 22:30 GMT / 23:30 BST (London). On Twitter, use #howlround to join the conversation.

Livestreaming The New Black Fest
Video

Livestreaming The New Black Fest

Monday, March 14 2016
New York, NY, United States

The New Black Fest and The Lark in New York City livestream The White Gaze, The Truth Gaze and a New Revolution, the kick-off panel event of The New Black Fest at the Lark on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Monday, March 14 at 7pm EST / 6pm CST / 4pm PST. On Twitter, follow @LarkTalks, @TheNewBlackFest and @HowlRoundTV. Use #TNBF16 to send questions and to get updates. 

The Gathering 2016: Advocating for Black Female Choreographers in the Contemporary Dance World
Video

The Gathering 2016: Advocating for Black Female Choreographers in the Contemporary Dance World

Sunday 17 January 2016
New York, NY, United States

The Gathering 2016: Advocating for Black Female Choreographers in the Contemporary Dance World livestreamed from New York City on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Sunday 17 January at 1 p.m.-4 p.m. PST (San Francisco) / 3 p.m.-6 p.m. CST (Chicago) / 4 p.m.-7 p.m. EST (New York). Use Twitter hashtag #TheGathering2016 and direct your comments @CamilleABrown. Facilitators' Twitter handles are: @DancingWhileBlk@PalomaMcGregor@shanijamila. The Gathering partner Twitter handles are: @NewYorkLiveArts@TheFieldNYC@DanceNYC.

The Fierce Angels Feast at Double Nickels Theatre Company
Video

The Fierce Angels Feast at Double Nickels Theatre Company

Friday 20 November 2015
Washington, DC, United States

Double Nickels Theatre Company in Washington, DC hosted a Fierce Angels Feast livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 20 November at 3:30 p.m. PST (Los Angeles) / 5:30 p.m. CST (Chicago) / 6:30 p.m. EST (New York) / 23:30 GMT (London). In Twitter, use #howlround and follow @HowlRoundTV.

The Art of Justice: Articulating an Ethos and Aesthetic of the Movement
Video

The Art of Justice: Articulating an Ethos and Aesthetic of the Movement

Saturday 7 November 2015.
New York, NY, United States

The Art of Justice: Articulating an Ethos and Aesthetic of the Movement presented its first convening in a three-part series of artist roundtables, livestreamed on the global, commons based peer-produced HowlRoundTV network at howlround.tv on Saturday 7 November. To join the conversation via Twitter use hashtag #TheArtofJustice and follow @cccadi and @nyuartspolitics.