But the conversation didn’t stop there.

When the conversations shifted to the brain child of our Managing Editor April Reign, #OscarsSoWhite, Lupita had something to say.

We knew we liked Lupita. 

This isn’t the first time the Oscar winner has spoken out about the lack of representation in the Oscars. She took to Instagram weeks ago in alignment with her peers seeking change by saying: “The Awards should not dictate the terms of art in our modern society, but rather be a diverse reflection of the best of what our art has to offer today.”

Like the rest of us, she sees the need for expansion in the diversity of shows in order to better reflect the world we live in. She’s invested in sharing untold stories—much like that of the five African women, bonded together by turmoil and navigating war. The story she’s currently sharing 8 shows a week. 

I feel the change coming in the atmosphere and I’d like to believe it will be greater than changes in membership and voting policies. But until then, we’ll be in formation. We’re going to keep on creating. We’re going to keep on supporting. And here, we’re going to keep on highlighting the achievements and successes of African-American theatre artists on and off the Broadway stage. 

As for Sunday, February 28th. Well, we’ll be live-tweeting “The Wood.”

The post New Broadway Star Lupita Nyong’o talks #OscarsSoWhite appeared first on Broadway Black.

The University of Miami graduate got a little nostalgic with his social media followers as he took a literal walk down memory lane through the campus.  Boasting his Miami green “U” tank top and sandals (clearly enjoying the antithesis of New York winter weather), Henry stood proudly in front of the Jerry Herman Ring Theater, the student performance space that cultivated his budding creativity as well as that of several other notable students.

Never forget where you came from. Before I was ready for Broadway, I honed my performing chops here at the University of Miami’s #JerryHermanRingTheater. This is where the fire was fanned. Just visited today and felt all the feelings again! #AllAboutTheU #humblebeginnings

Inside the theater, it was almost as if Henry had stepped back in time and could see and feel all of the experiences he’d had in the space.  He vividly narrated the memory of his first acting class:

This is the black box theater at the University of Miami. Bruce Miller was the first person to give me an acting class in college.  Freshman year we all sat in a circle here and we said something about where we’re from and what we wanna accomplish in the next four years and there was just so much love here, but it just brings back the craziest memories.  Wow.

After graduating from the Coral Gables campus in 2006, Henry instantly landed a role in Godspell at Papermill Playhouse.  By 2007, the crooner was on Broadway with In the Heights.  Henry played “Tin Man” in The Wiz at City Center and a very sexy “Favorite Son” in American Idiot before earning a 2011 Tony Award nomination for his powerful depiction of Haywood Patterson in Scottsboro Boys.

VIDEO: Where did I learn how to act? University of Miami theater department! #DaU #HumbleBeginnings https://t.co/GEPn2c5O3N

— Joshua Henry (@joshuahenry20) January 5, 2016

I’m counting the days until we get to see many of our favorite Broadway Black stars in Shuffle Along, namely, my boo, Mr. Henry.  I’m also hoping that somewhere in Hamilton’s eternal run (because it’s obviously not going anywhere anytime soon) I will get to see a Joshua Henry portrayal of Aaron Burr. #FangirlFantasy.  Lin Manuel, are you listening??

The post Joshua Henry Goes Back to School…Kinda appeared first on Broadway Black.

#FunHam mash #HelplessRaincoat @SydneyLucasNYC @Lin_Manuel @funhomemusical @HamiltonMusical https://t.co/nRDxkv9Apg pic.twitter.com/yaWKQNtEay

— Oscar Williams (@OscarWWilliams) November 1, 2015

Who doesn’t enjoy seeing kids dressed up in period costumes? Lucky for you Gabriella Pizzolo, Oscar Williams, and Zell Morrow, the very talented kids in the Fun Home cast, dressed in their favorite 1700s wear, portraying Eliza, Hamilton, and King George.  

Who wore it best? …Obviously @sashahutchings, but I tried. #Halloween #Hamilton A photo posted by Darius Wright (@dariusawright) on Oct 30, 2015 at 7:13am PDT

  This really is the year of Hamilton and we’re not mad about it! Darius Wright from the cast of Matilda, dawned some curls and lipstick, and transformed effortlessly into Sasha Hutchings, currently in the ensemble of Hamilton. He did that!    

@Lin_Manuel @HamiltonMusical a #10PacesFire Happy Halloween from #MattJackson #Jeopardy pic.twitter.com/lxNddxBQd5 — Katie Scott (@KTScott) October 31, 2015

It wouldn’t be Hamilween without someone portraying Leslie Odom Jr.’s, Aaron Burr. “Jeopardy!” phenomenon and Hamilton fan, Matt Jackson, nailed it and even added his personal flair scribing the “Ten Duel Commandments” in stone.

By @violadavis: So…..the Elsa costume? Didn’t work for her. The Pirate? A no go. So she finally said,” I just want to be YOU mommy”! So… uhh….this is ME.

A photo posted by BroadwayBlack (@broadwayblack) on Oct 31, 2015 at 8:11pm PDT

Nothing can top the admiration that beams from a daughter that wants nothing more than to be like her mom. Genesis, the beautiful daughter of Queen Viola Davis, takes the cake for best Broadway inspired costume of 2015. Who doesn’t want to be like Tony and Emmy award-winner Viola Davis. WHO!?!   

And we are telling you… Happy Halloween! A photo posted by BroadwayBlack (@broadwayblack) on Oct 31, 2015 at 8:37am PDT

This one really just brings a big smile to your face. It’s so well done and spot on. Her pose & smile really syncs up well to the inspiration. We know Jennifer Hudson rocked the role and won an Oscar but this young girl deserves an award for her heart. We love it!

#AboutLastNight By @nickrburroughs: Oh you thought Halloween was over?!? Aunt Viv from Fresh Prince of Bel-air is ready to SERVE!

A video posted by BroadwayBlack (@broadwayblack) on Nov 2, 2015 at 6:02am PST

The ones that made us laugh the most included was Nick Rashad Burroughs, who will have his 54 Below debut alongside Marisha Wallace soon. He continued the Halloween celebration at Matthew Morrison’s party in a leotard. He was Aunt Viv from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in the infamous audition episode. This one took us down!

Another good hearty chuckle came from Amber Iman, who went to her celebration as “The Bella Noches Girl”. I mean, If you can’t go to Bella Noches, where can you GO?!? This one was spot on and we are still in tears over it.

All in all, Halloween was great this year! Can’t wait to see what the Broadway Black community cooks up next year!

The post The Best of Broadway Black Halloween 2015 appeared first on Broadway Black.

The saying, “art imitates life” is often thrown around callously. But when it comes to Black theatre artists, the phrase means a lot more than meets the eye (or the mouth, for that matter). In theatre history, there has been a tradition of productions staged to reflect the politics and restlessness of the times. Today’s theatre artists are similar to their predecessors.

Award-winning playwright Katori Hall is in touch with the Black Lives Matter movement and other political happenings, as often reflected on her Twitter page. Hall’s form of protest appears within her writing. Her play, The Mountaintop, fictionalizes the events leading up to the death of civil rights leader, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In an April interview with The Root, Hall states, in regard to her decision to become a playwright,

Me and my scene partner, we’re, like, two young African-American women … we get to the library and we’re pulling out all kinds of plays and couldn’t find nothing—like, nothing … had any scenes with young black women in it . … So I went to the teacher and was like, ‘Do you have any suggestions, because we’re having a hard time,’ and 10 seconds went by, 20 seconds went by, 40 seconds went by, and our professor could not think of an answer, and so, in that moment I said to myself, ‘I’m going to write those plays, then.’

Theatres have also been involved with Black Lives Matter in inspirational ways. In early February, Washington D.C.’s Howard Theatre hosted a panel that discussed the Movement. Howard Theatre has an extensive history of featuring Black theatre artists and their many talents. In May, the cast from Marley the Musical took time out of rehearsal to perform a free concert for those protesting the senseless death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore. At the National Black Theatre Festival in early June, according to Ticket Sarasota, Jackie Taylor, founder of the Black Ensemble Theater, remarked, “This is a sick society, with Black men being killed, young boys being killed, churches being burned and those nine people being killed in that church in Charleston. Racism is embedded.” The Black Ensemble Theater’s mission is one that is clear-cut and powerful: “to eradicate racism and its damaging effects upon our society through the utilization of theater arts.”

This is merely a snapshot of the work being done in the Black theatre world in support of the Black Lives Matter Movement. So many Black artists have and continue to use their work not only to showcase the ever present Black excellence in theatre but also to shift the mindset of those who may perpetuate the systemic racism that holds them back. These artists prove, time and time again, that not only do Black lives matter, but so does Black art.

The post Stand For Justice: Black Theatre in the Fight for Black Lives Matter appeared first on Broadway Black.

On today: we celebrate the 70th birthday of the “distiller of the Black experience,” #AugustWilson. #AllAUGUSTAllDay. pic.twitter.com/lcWXEGfIrF

— Broadway Black (@BroadwayBlack) April 27, 2015

Our followers jumped at the opportunity to join in the praise…

 

“All of human life is universal…it is theatre that illuminates the ability to speak for all man” #AllAUGUSTAllDaypic.twitter.com/3JKP18WfW8

— Mind Bar (@by_Meghan) April 27, 2015

#AugustWilson wrote the Black voice for all decades… You think “outchea” would be included in a cycle for today? #AllAUGUSTAllDay — Congo Square Theater (@congosquareCHI) April 27, 2015

Cherished memory. The cast of 7Guitars @CENTERSTAGE_MD with The Man. Happy Birthday #AugustWilson #AllAUGUSTAllDay pic.twitter.com/IBRKsNC4aQ

— Linda Powell (@lindapnyc) April 28, 2015

#AugustWilson #quotes #AllAugustAllDay https://t.co/eMWT2IAT9w

— Goodman Theatre (@GoodmanTheatre) April 27, 2015

Happy Monday! Loving this #AllAUGUSTAllDay in celebration of August Wilson.

— ReBecca Theodore (@FilmFatale_NYC) April 27, 2015

4/27/45 — Frederick August Kittel is born. The world grew to know and love him as #AugustWilson. #AllAUGUSTAllDay. pic.twitter.com/HOzTAU1pDR

— Broadway Black (@BroadwayBlack) April 27, 2015

August Wilson was an American playwright who did the unheard of- penning ten plays. One for each decade of the twentieth century for which he received two Pulitzer Prizes for Drama. The Century Cycle gave a glimpse into American history through the lens of the Black experience. It included: Fences, Jitney, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Gem of the Ocean, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Piano Lesson, Seven Guitars, Two Trains Running, Radio Golf, and King Hedley II. What made Wilson’s work so incredible is that he did not write the plays sequentially. In fact, the last play he wrote and staged, Gem of the Ocean, is actually the first in the cycle.

Many of today’s most successful black actors and actresses have been a part of August Wilson’s work. Talents like Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, James Earl Jones, Taraji P. Henson, Courtney B. Vance, Phylicia Rashad and too many others to list have all had the opportunity to live in Wilson’s worlds and obtain great success.

“I think the play offers (white Americans) a different way to look at black Americans… For instance, in ‘Fences’ they see a garbageman, a person they don’t really look at, although they see a garbageman every day. By looking at Troy’s life, white people find out that the content of this black garbageman’s life is affected by the same things- love, honor, beauty, betrayal, duty. Recognizing that these things are as much part of his life as theirs can affect how they think about and deal with black people in their lives.”

-“August Wilson, Theater’s Poet of Black America, Is Dead at 60” The New York Times, October 3, 2005.

August Wilson understood the power of the theatre and used it to its full potential by inserting honesty and realism into every play. The lines read like poetry- exuding love, pain, tragedy, joy, slight, and pride. There is a resounding truth in all of Wilson’s work. It connects us, not only to the Black experience, but to the human experience.

To Mr. Wilson we say thank you for loving our people as a whole. For not censoring our lives, but articulating the meanings to help us better understand ourselves. Thank you for your integrity and empowerment. For allowing your characters to be vivid, complex, angry, happy, confused, arrogant, and gracious. Thank you for creating substantial and sustainable work that is constantly giving to every generation until the end of time… Much love, sir.

The post All Hail King August Wilson! appeared first on Broadway Black.

Hilarity and silliness ensues as Robin De Jesus tries to figure out why learning, growing up, turning 30 and “becoming a better person” sucks. Expect to hear Broadway standards, 90′s pop, today and tomorrow’s hits.

After starring on Broadway in Rent, In the Heights, and La Cage Aux Folles Robin can currently be seen on Broadway in the hit musical Wicked. Robin is also known to many from the hit indie movie Camp where he played the central role of Michael Flores. This is Robin’s second show at 54 Below after his successful run with Crush to Crushed.  “Don’t be surprised if you leave Robin De Jesus’s cabaret, Crush to Crushed, with a little crush of your own.” (Orlando Sentinel). Photo by Monica Simoes.

Featuring Taylor Louderman (Bring It On, NBC’s Peter Pan Live!) and Daniel Quadrino (Wicked, Newsies)
Music Direction by Benjamin Rauhala
Directed by Yvette Kojic

The post [WATCH] Robin De Jesus At 54 Below #TheStruggleIsReal appeared first on Broadway Black.