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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
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).

Sharpening Our Oyster Knives: Revisiting What to Send Up When It Goes Down
Podcast

Sharpening Our Oyster Knives: Revisiting What to Send Up When It Goes Down

Bonus Episode

1 November 2021

On this special episode of Daughters of Lorraine, hosts Leticia Ridley and Jordan Ealey sit down with Aleshea Harris and Whitney White, the playwright and director of the powerful, ritualistic play, What to Send Up When It Goes Down.

event poster for academia through a black woman's lens.
Academia Through a Black Woman's Lens
red background with white text red pill.
Red Pill
Video

Academia Through a Black Woman's Lens

How can we help ensure the safety of Black women in Academia?

Thursday 28 October 2021
United States

Tonya Pinkins presented Through A Black Woman’s Lens—Academia livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 28 October 2021 at 2 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 4 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 5 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

Introducing the University of Pittsburgh's August Wilson Archive
Podcast

Introducing the University of Pittsburgh's August Wilson Archive

With Dr. Sandra Shannon and Bill Daw

27 October 2021

As the University of Pittsburgh prepares to make August Wilson’s archive publicly accessible, Dr. Sandra G. Shannon and William Daw join Mike Leuger to discuss Wilson’s flourishing legacy.

event poster for decolonizing dramaturgy: Situating Dramaturgical Discourse in Africa.
Situating Dramaturgical Discourse in Africa
Video

Situating Dramaturgical Discourse in Africa

Episode One of Decolonizing Dramaturgy: Theatremakers from Africa in Conversation

Wednesday 20 October 2021
Africa

Taiwo Afolabi presented Decolonizing Dramaturgy: Situating Dramaturgical Discourse in Africa livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 20 October 2021 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4) / 5 p.m. WAT (Lagos, UTC +1) / 17:00 BST (London, UTC +1) / 18:00 SAST (Johannesburg, UTC +2) / 18:00 CEST (Berlin, UTC +2) / 19:00 EAT (Nairobi, UTC +3).

Reappraising the Legacy of Ernie McClintock with Dr. Ibby Cizmar
Podcast

Reappraising the Legacy of Ernie McClintock with Dr. Ibby Cizmar

6 October 2021

Dr. Ibby Cizmar joins the Theatre History Podcast to share her research on Ernie McClintock, who worked to develop a system of training and performance that could serve the specific needs of African American actors in the mid-twentieth century. A significant influence in the Black Arts Movement, McClintock’s methods continue to influence institutions and theatremakers today.

event poster for Daniel Alexander Jones's book release.
Daniel Alexander Jones’ Saturday Morning Book Release Party
National Black Theatre logo.
National Black Theatre
New Dramatists logo.
New Dramatists
Penumbra Logo.
Penumbra
53rd State Press Logo.
53rd State Press
Video

Daniel Alexander Jones’ Saturday Morning Book Release Party

A celebration of two books released this month by 53rd State Press: Love Like Light and Particle and Wave.

Saturday 2 October 2021
New York City

A panel discussion that celebrates two new book releases: Love Like Light, Daniel Alexander Jones’s collection of seven plays and performance texts, and Particle and a Wave, a conversation between Daniel Alexander Jones and feminist poet and scholar Alexis Pauline Gumbs. Livestreamed on the commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network Saturday 2 October 2021.

Event poster with headshots for Deaf Woke with Malika Freeman.
#DeafWoke with Malika Freeman
Urban Jazz Dance Company logo.
Urban Jazz Dance Company
Video

#DeafWoke with Malika Freeman

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

Thursday 30 September 2021
United States

Antoine Hunter presented #DeafWoke with Malika Freeman livestreaming on the commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Thursday 30 September 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).

event poster for spirituality and sexuality through a black woman's lens.
Spirituality and Sexuality Through a Black Woman's Lens
red background with white text red pill.
Red Pill
Video

Spirituality and Sexuality Through a Black Woman's Lens

How Can We Use Our Spirituality and Sexuality to Reclaim Our Bodies?

Thursday 30 September 2021
United States

Tonya Pinkins presented Through A Black Woman’s Lens—Spirituality & Sexuality livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 30 September 2021 at 2 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 4 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 5 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

event poster for deaf woke with sarah young bear brown.
Livestreaming a Conversation: #DeafWoke with Sarah Young Bear-Brown
Urban Jazz Dance Company logo.
Urban Jazz Dance Company
Video

Livestreaming a Conversation: #DeafWoke with Sarah Young Bear-Brown

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

Thursday 16 September 2021
United States

Antoine Hunter presents #DeafWoke with Sarah Young Bear-Brown/tti-ka-mi-ge-a livestreaming on the commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Thursday 16 September 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).

Three people sitting onstage, one of them holding a globe, and five spirits above them, one in the middle connecting two blocks with a spark in between them.
Public Access Archives: The End of the Theatre Industry
Essay

Public Access Archives: The End of the Theatre Industry

7 September 2021

Taylor Leigh Lamb and Sabine Decatur share emails, letters, social media posts, and more from the future that represent the period of profound change in the theatre industry beginning in 2021.

event poster for through a black woman's lens.
Misogynoir Through a Black Woman's Lens
red background with white text red pill.
Red Pill
Video

Misogynoir Through a Black Woman's Lens

What role can Black men play to change the narrative and protect women of color?

Thursday 26 August 2021
United States

Tonya Pinkins presented Through A Black Woman’s Lens—Misogynoir livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 26 August 2021 at 2 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 4 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 5 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

The guest, Teresa Coleman Wash, smiling and wearing a red shirt against a galaxy background.
Being a Neighborhood Resource Center and Owning Our Tables
Podcast

Being a Neighborhood Resource Center and Owning Our Tables

With Teresa Coleman Wash of Bishop Arts Theatre Center

25 August 2021

Yura Sapi speaks with Teresa Coleman Wash, the founding artistic director of Bishop Arts Theatre Center, whose mission is to create a diverse and vibrant arts community while creating sustainable opportunities for local and emerging artists through performances and education.

poster of deafwoke with Kavita Pipalia.
#DeafWoke with Kavita Pipalia
Urban Jazz Dance Company logo.
Urban Jazz Dance Company
Video

#DeafWoke with Kavita Pipalia

A Virtual Consciousness-Raising Online Talk Show, Led by Black and Native American Deaf Host Mr. Antoine Hunter PurpleFireCrow

Thursday 12 August 2021
United States

Antoine Hunter presents #DeafWoke with Kavita Pipalia livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 12 August at 4 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 6 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 7 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

Strong Foundations and Groundings & Solidarity
Podcast

Strong Foundations and Groundings & Solidarity

With Quanice Floyd of Art Administrators of Color

11 August 2021

Yura Sapi talks with Quanice Floyd, founder of Arts Administrators of Color Network, whose mission is to empower artists and arts administrators by providing tools and resources to advocate for equity, inclusion, access, and diversity in the arts.

event poster for through a black woman's lens literature.
Literature Through a Black Woman's Lens
red background with white text red pill.
Red Pill
Video

Literature Through a Black Woman's Lens

Black female literary characters, over the centuries and in present time, are often marginalized. We will discuss how we can reshape and center our stories as women of color

Thursday 29 July 2021
United States

Tonya Pinkins presented Through A Black Woman’s Lens—Literature livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 29 July 2021 at 2 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 4 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 5 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

#DeafWoke with Raven Sutton
Urban Jazz Dance Company logo.
Urban Jazz Dance Company
Video

#DeafWoke with Raven Sutton

A virtual consciousness-raising online talk show, led by Black and Native American Deaf host Mr. Antoine Hunter PurpleFireCrow

Tuesday 27 July 2021
United States

Antoine Hunter presented #DeafWoke with Raven Sutton livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 27 July at 5 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 7 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 8 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).