Black Angels Over Tuskegee has been inspiring audiences Off-Broadway since 2010 with its story of brotherhood in the face of adversity. Playwright, director, and actor, Layon Gray was inspired to write a narrative based on the first black WWII aviators when he saw the Tuskegee Airmen receive the Congressional Gold Medal in April 2006 and a friend informed him that there was an airmen who lived in his neighborhood. Gray received first hand stories about the lives and experiences of the airmen who trained at Tuskegee and from this he was able to create his play.
Black Angels Over Tuskegee tells the story of 6 men who are training to become pilots in the U.S. Air Force in the time of Jim Crow. These men are fighting personal wars as well as preparing to fight in a world war for a country that is in no way fighting for them. Despite the differences of that time period and today, this story is still painfully relevant and needs to be told.
Audiences and critics alike have found this to be a moving and uplifting production. It won the 2009 NAACP Award for Best Ensemble, as well as the 2009 Artistic Achievement Award for Best Play. More people may be able to experience it as the show has its sights set on a Broadway run. Currently in the early stages, Black Angels Over Tuskegee is seeking investors to help with this goal. Hopefully, as more audiences come to experience the current production, Black Angels will fly over Broadway soon!
Black Angels Over Tuskegee is currently running Off-Broadway at the St. Luke’s Theatre 308 W. 46th St. New York, NY 10036. For tickets and more information, visit www.blackangelsovertuskegee.com
