The festival begins with a Red Carpet Opening production entitled Colored Lodgings by Bill Harris. This play, starring NAACP Image Award and Emmy nominee Taurean Blacque, centers around the aspiration of a pre-Civil Rights Black businessman who created a hotel for “Colored People” and became entwined in a provocative story that must be told.

Other performances include the Passing of Fatha Thyme by Roz Ayres-Williams, Changes by Andria & Anthony Chappell, Crazy Love by Geiselle Nix-Fauntleroy, Black Social Network by Zondra Hughes, Titty by Stephane Dunn, PhD, Thirsty by Ursula O. Robinson, and Chicago Trilogy by Sandra Seaton. In addition to performances, the festival features workshops, such as Applied Theatre: Expect the Unexpected; and Acting, Directing & Writing Ain’t for the Thin Skinned where Stephane Dunn, Avery O. Williams and Keith Bolden explore the trends and skills needed to survive an emerging multi-media entertainment industry. The festival also includes DELETED by Valerie Udeozor, a town hall meeting for teens on cyber bullying.

TheAtlanta Black Theatre Festival was established to create and expand opportunities for emerging and seasoned artists from across the Diaspora to showcase their work in Atlanta. The primary goal is to promote diversity in the performing arts and engage and enlighten the next generation while ultimately impacting the cultural and capital economies of the surrounding communities.

Past honorees of the festival are Woodie King, Jr., 2014; Alia Jones-Harvey, 2014; Pearl Cleage, 2013; Melba Moore, 2012; and Taurean Blacque, 2011.

The festival is billed as “a performing arts marathon consisting of over 200 artists representing 18 states and 3 countries”

For more information on performances and tickets, visit www.atlantabtf.org.

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