Except the only thing that the MTC did not include this year were works written by  people of color. Their season’s writers include one woman out of the eight shows planned. But can we say that we are shocked?

Why does theater (like other media) have such a problem in terms of gender and race? Is it so hard to find quality female and playwrights of color? Much of it probably has to do with the history of theatre. We are always taught that Shakespeare is the ideal playwright; he’s what we should all aspire to be. But this means that it will always be plays and musicals by white men that keep getting produced. Most of the revivals made are productions directed by white men because they were also written by white men. And since people keep going to see them, they will remake the same plays over and over, year after year, unless there are new works to give underrepresented groups a chance to be seen and heard.

You would think this history would be incentive to diversify the content, especially considering MTC’s artistic director, Lynne Meadow, is a woman.  Can you imagine the Classical Theatre of Harlem producing shows that weren’t written or directed by a single person of color?

After the MTC season was announced, the internet immediately responded with their disdain. That prompted Meadow to release a statement about the content; “I don’t deny the fact that this season is anomalous in terms of the percentages of diversity on our stages,” she stated. “It’s just how the season came together.” Interesting.

However, the diversity issue isn’t lost on MTC. In the past decade, Manhattan Theater Club has had five seasons, including last year, when at least half of the plays had a female playwright. Over the last four seasons, Ms. Meadow said, 43 percent of playwrights and directors at the company were women and minorities. Of its 49 commissions in the past four years, she said, 28 went to women and minorities.

So what happened this year? Where race and equality have been at the forefront of issues facing this country, the Manhattan Theatre Club should have chosen to diversify its content and not ignore the issue.

The post The Lack Of Diversity In Theatre Seasons Are Not Going Unnoticed appeared first on Broadway Black.

Amazing Grace 

• Theatre: Nederlander Theatre
• First Preview: June 25, 2015
• Opening: July 16, 2015
• Written by Arthur Giron (Book), Arthur Giron and Christopher Smith (Music & Lyrics)
• Director: Gabriel Barre
• Cast: Josh Young, Erin Mackey, Chuck Cooper, Harriet D. Foy, Laiona Michelle, Rachael Ferrera
• A new-original musical based on the awe-inspiring true story behind the world’s most beloved song. A tale of romance, rebellion and redemption that follows one man whose incredible journey ignited a historic wave of change.
• Website: http://amazinggracemusical.com/

Hamilton  

• Theatre: Richard Rodgers Theatre
• First Preview: July 13, 2015
• Opening: August 6, 2015
• Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda (Book, Music & Lyrics)
• Director: Thomas Kail
• Cast: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Christopher Jackson, Leslie Odom Jr., Phillipa Soo
• Originally premiered Off-Broadway at The Public Theatre, Hamilton makes its move to the Great White Way. From bastard orphan to Washington’s right hand man, rebel to war hero, loving husband caught in the country’s first sex scandal to Treasury head who made an untrusting world believe in the American economy, Hamilton is an exploration of a political mastermind.
• Website: http://www.hamiltonbroadway.com/

The Gin Game 

• Theatre: Golden Theatre
• First Preview: Sept. 21, 2015
• Opening: Oct. 13, 2015
• Written by D.L. Coburn
• Director: Leonard Foglia
• Cast: James Earl Jones, Cicely Tyson
• An elderly couple at a nursing home play an increasingly tense series of gin rummy games as they expose truths about their failures, disappointments and insecurities.

The Color Purple

• Theatre: Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre
• First Preview: November 9, 2015
• Opening: December 10, 2015
• Written by Marsha Norman (Book), Brenda Russell, Allee Willis & Stephen Bray (Music & Lyrics), Alice Walker (Novel)
• Director: John Doyle
• Cast: Cynthia Erivo, Jennifer Hudson, Danielle Brooks
• Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, The Color Purple follows the inspirational Celie as she journeys from childhood through joy and despair, anguish and hope to discover the power of love and life. Tickets go on sale June 30.
• Website: http://colorpurple.com/

Shuffle Along 

• Theatre: Music Box Theatre
• First Preview: March 14, 2016
• Opening: April 21, 2016
• Written by Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle (Music), George C. Wolfe (Book)
• Director: George C. Wolfe, Savion Glover (Choreography)
• Cast: Audra McDonald, 
• A backstage musical about the events that led to the creation of the groundbreaking Eubie Blake-Noble Sissle 1921 musical Shuffle Along that starred Josephine Baker and Paul Robeson

Children of a Lesser God

• Theatre: TBA
• Target Opening: 2015-16 Season
• Written by Mark Medoff
• Director: Kenny Leon
• Cast: TBA
• The story of James Leeds, a new teacher at a school for the deaf, and Sarah Norman, the school’s one-time star student who has stayed behind as its cleaning woman rather than venturing out into the hearing world. James immediately takes a keen interest in Sarah, and tries to persuade her to communicate orally by lip reading. They soon embark on an emotional journey that will teach them both new ways of communicating and loving and, in the process, they build a romance beyond words.

With such an awesome and diverse lineup–both on stage and behind the scenes– our hope is that these shows can and will be seen by as many people as possible, to show the theatre world what else there is to offer. More diverse storytelling leads to a more diverse audience, which keeps the theatre alive. So do me and everyone else here at Broadway Black a huge favor; if you can get your hands on these tickets GO and while you’re at it, tell a friend or two.

The post Broadway Is The New Black: 2015-16 Season Line-Up appeared first on Broadway Black.