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

We’ve Got Trouble in Mind

Podcast

We’ve Got Trouble in Mind

by Jordan Ealey, Leticia Ridley

29 November 2023

Digging for Bones with Topdog/Underdog

Podcast

Digging for Bones with Topdog/Underdog

by Leticia Ridley, Jordan Ealey

15 November 2023

Black Patience and the Theatre of Civil Rights

Podcast

Black Patience and the Theatre of Civil Rights

by Leticia Ridley, Jordan Ealey, Julius B. Fleming, Jr.

1 November 2023

Nydia Simone and Blactina

Podcast

Nydia Simone and Blactina

Building Our Own Table Episode #4

20 January 2021

In this episode of Building Our Own Tables Podcast, host Viviana Vargas discusses amplifying Afrolatinx and Caribbean stories with an emphasis on women through media and entertainment with Blactina founder Nydia Simone.

Sometimes the Best Technology is Relationships

Essay

Sometimes the Best Technology is Relationships

A Conversation with Complex Movements

15 January 2021

In the last conversation of the Performing the Internet series, curator Kate Bergstrom sits down with three members of the Detroit-based artist-activist collective Complex Movements—Sage Crump, ill weaver, Wes Taylor—to talk about intentional engagement in a virtual world.

Lauren E. Turner and No Dream Deferred

Podcast

Lauren E. Turner and No Dream Deferred

Building Our Own Tables Episode #2

16 December 2020

In the second episode of Build Our Own Tables podcast, host Viviana Vargas interviews Lauren E. Turner of No Dream Deferred, a community anchored theatre production company in New Orleans, Louisiana. Your donation to Advancing Arts Forward supports liberated spaces that uplift, heal and encourage us to change the world.

Claiming Our Space with Hana Sharif

Podcast

Claiming Our Space with Hana Sharif

Daughters of Lorraine Podcast Season 2 Episode 6

25 November 2020

For the last episode of season two of the Daughters of Lorraine Podcast, hosts Jordan Ealey and Leticia Ridley talk with Hana S. Sharif about her journey to becoming one of the first Black women to be artistic director of a regional theatre, managing in a pandemic, her thoughts on the current state of American theatre, and more.

DeafWoke with Janeshia Adams-Ginyard

Urban Jazz Dance Company

Video

DeafWoke with Janeshia Adams-Ginyard

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

Thursday 19 November 2020

United States

Antoine Hunter presented DeafWoke with Janeshia Adams-Ginyard livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 19 November at 4 p.m. PST (San Francisco, UTC -8) / 6 p.m. CST (Chicago, UTC -6) / 7 p.m. EST (New York, UTC -5).

black and white photo of four actors onstage

When Form Meets Content

Podcast

When Form Meets Content

Daughters of Lorraine Podcast Season 2 Episode 5

18 November 2020

In this episode, Daughters of Lorraine Podcast hosts Jordan Ealey and Leticia Ridley discuss how Black playwrights, such as Adrienne Kennedy, Tarrell Alvin McCraney, Suzan-Lori Parks, and Ntozake Shange, have experimented with form.

Antoine Hunter Presents #DeafWoke with Def Lens Media

Urban Jazz Dance Company

Video

Antoine Hunter Presents #DeafWoke with Def Lens Media

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

Thursday 5 October 2020

United States

Antoine Hunter Presented #DeafWoke with Def Lens Media livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 5 November at 4 p.m. PST (San Francisco, UTC -8) / 6 p.m. CST (Chicago, UTC -6) / 7 p.m. EST (New York, UTC -5).

Call and Response: A Black Lives Matter Q&A for Young People [ASL and Live Captions]

ArtsEmerson

Video

Call and Response: A Black Lives Matter Q&A for Young People [ASL and Live Captions]

Featuring Toshi Reagon, Kwame Alexander, Jason Reynolds, Jacqueline Woodson and many more...

Friday 30 October 2020

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

ArtsEmerson presented Call and Response: A Black Lives Matter Q&A for Young People featuring Toshi Reagon, Kwame Alexander, Jason Reynolds, Jacqueline Woodson and many more... livestreaming on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 30 October 2020 at 3:30 p.m. PDT (Los Angeles, UTC -7) / 5:30 p.m. (Chicago, UTC -5) / 6:30 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4) / 10:30 p.m. GMT (London, UTC +0).

#DeafWoke with Rodney Burford

Urban Jazz Dance Company

Video

#DeafWoke with Rodney Burford

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

Thursday 29 October 2020

United States

Antoine Hunter presented #DeafWoke with Rodney Burford livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 29 October at 4 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 6 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 7 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

"Unbought & Unbossed"

National Black Theatre

Video

"Unbought & Unbossed"

Part Three: To Be UNBOSSED ft. Hope Boykin, Dianne Smith, and Dane Figueroa Edidi

Thursday 29 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 29 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).

Photo of three conversation participants, with the event title and producers listed.

On Radical Imagination and The Black Feminine Divine

Crowded Fire

Campo Santo

Video

On Radical Imagination and The Black Feminine Divine

With Star Finch, Ellen Sebastian Chang, and Lisa Marie Rollins, presented by Crowded Fire and Campo Santo.

Tuesday 27 October 2020

United States

Crowded Fire and Campo Santo presented the conversation On Radical Imagination & The Black Feminine Divine livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Tuesday 27 October 2020 at 2 p.m. HST (UTC -9) / 5 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 7 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 8 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

American Theatre's Racial Reckoning with The Black Artist Coalition

Podcast

American Theatre's Racial Reckoning with The Black Artist Coalition

Daughters of Lorraine Podcast Season 2 Episode 4

28 October 2020

The Daughters of Lorraine Podcast hosts Jordan Ealey and Leticia Ridley discuss the advent of We See You, White American Theatre and situate it within a history of Black theatre artists calling out the white supremacy endemic to American theatre, as well as interviewing The Black Artist Coalition founders Vaughn Midder and Kevin McAllister.

The Afro-Existential Podcast’s Virtual Event: Creating Art in the Time of Corona

The Afro-Existential Podcast

Video

The Afro-Existential Podcast’s Virtual Event: Creating Art in the Time of Corona

Featuring audio-play productions and guest interviews on afro-existential themes

Saturday 17 October 2020

United States

The Afro-Existential Podcast, part of the Broadway Podcast Network, presented Creating Art in the Time of Corona livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday 17 September 2020 at 6:00 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 8:00 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 9:00 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4).

artist headshots with text details about the event.

"Unbought & Unbossed"

National Black Theatre

Video

"Unbought & Unbossed"

Part Two: Issues Facing Black Women's Lives and Liberation Today featuring Stephanie Young, Rhonda Ross, and DeRay Mckesson

Thursday 15 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 15 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).

Black Directors Roundtable

Art2Action

Pangea

Video

Black Directors Roundtable

Centering the voices of Black leaders in theatre with the National Institute for Directing & Ensemble Creation

Thursday 8 October 2020

United States

The National Institute for Directing & Ensemble Creation presented a Black Directors Roundtable livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 8 October 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).

SEGAL TALKS with Sade Lythcott (NYC)

Segal

Center

Video

SEGAL TALKS with Sade Lythcott (NYC)

Join us for a conversation about curating, producing and presenting theatre and performance in the Time of Corona

Thursday 8 October 2020

United States

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented Segal Talks with Sade Lythcott (NYC) livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 8 October 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4) / 17:00 BST (London, UTC +1) / 18:00 CEST (Berlin, UTC +2).

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

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

Dr. Ayshia

Mackie-Stephenson

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

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

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

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).