Which is why Broadway Black has no choice but to share the release of Contemporary Plays by African American Women: Ten Complete Works by Sandra Adell. If there is one voice that’s been undervalued on stage, it’s that of the Black woman. That’s what makes this anthology so great. It’s a combined work that includes prominent Black female playwrights and some up-and-coming writers.

It features works from contemporary Black female playwrights including Blue Door by Tanya Barfield; Levee James  by S. M. Shephard-Massat; Hoodoo Love  by Katori Hall; Carnaval  by Nikkole Salter; Single Black Female  by Lisa B. Thompson; Fabulation, or The Re-Education of Undine by Lynn Nottage; BlackTop Sky by Christina Anderson; Voyeurs de Venus by Lydia Diamond; Fedra by J. Nicole Brooks; and Uppa Creek: A Modern Anachronistic Parody in the Minstrel Tradition by Keli Garrett.

The description reads:

African American women have increasingly begun to see their plays performed from regional stages to Broadway. Yet many of these artists still struggle to gain attention. In this volume, Sandra Adell draws from the vital wellspring of works created by African American women in the twenty-first century to present ten plays by both prominent and up-and-coming writers. Taken together, the selections portray how these women engage with history as they delve into–and shake up–issues of gender and class to craft compelling stories of African American life. Gliding from gritty urbanism to rural landscapes, these works expand boundaries and boldly disrupt modes of theatrical representation.

Sandra Adell (Ph.D., UW–Madison) is a professor of Literature in the department of Afro-American Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Comparative Literature. Her other works include Confessions of a Slot Machine Queen, Literary Masters: Toni Morrison, Dictionary of Twentieth-Century Culture: African American Culture, and Double Consciousness/Double Bind: Theoretical Issues in Twentieth-Century Black Literature.

Contemporary Plays by African American Women: Ten Complete Works was released December 15th and is available for purchase in hardcopy, paperback, and digital copy at Amazon here.

The post Sandra Adell Releases Ten Contemporary Plays by African American Women appeared first on Broadway Black.

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.

Saycon Sengbloh, Pascale Armand, Akosua Busia, and Zainab Jah reprise the roles written by playwright and actress Danai Gurira.  Zombiephiles may know Gurira from her groundbreaking role as the sword-wielding Michonne on AMC’s “The Walking Dead” series.

The play, set in 2003 near the end of the civil war in Liberia, is about the survival and resilience of a group of women who are captives of rebels fighting the government. Nyong’o, who made her Academy Award-winning screen debut in “12 Years a Slave,” stars in the role of “Girl,” the youngest of four captive wives of a rebel commander.

Eclipsed seeks to promote empowerment through telling the true story of African women in the midst of struggle— the Liberian civil war. Experience the power of women exposed. Experience the joy within a struggle. Experience the reality that war is real and desperately needs to be stopped. Experience the power of women.

Speaking of women, the cast, director Liesl Tommy, and writer are made up of entirely female artists— and that’s a first on Broadway. History has been made and audiences are ready to celebrate and be empowered. 

We were certainly there to witness that history at the Golden Theatre for the first preview performance. Photos & more below!

Joined on stage after our 1st Broadway show by an audience of incredible #women artists. #TrailblazingWomen pic.twitter.com/FEYRBbRC1d

— Eclipsed on Broadway (@eclipsedbway) February 24, 2016

The post Danai Gurira’s Eclipsed Begins Broadway Previews appeared first on Broadway Black.

The history-making all-woman cast, director, and writing team stand behind a program that at its core, is looking to empower girls and women. The program will target 10,000 girls from the Tri-State area who would have otherwise not been able to experience a show on Broadway, and give them the opportunity to do so.

Now that’s a blessing.

Eclipsed playwright and 10,000 Girls Campaign spokesperson, Danai Gurira, champions this movement stating:

I wrote this play and gave it the title Eclipsed for young girls and women to be celebrated, to see their intrinsic value and light despite a world that may tell them otherwise. Ten Thousand Girls pursues that vision by exposing girls and young women to theater they would never otherwise see, and exposing them to women performers who look like them shine onstage. I hope and believe this initiative will spark a mind, an imagination, and awakens the many giants within these young women.

Eclipsed promotes liberation through telling the true story of African women in the midst of turmoil— the Liberian civil war. It is a story that marries the pain and reality of oppression with the humorous undertones of everyday life. It’s the definition of beauty in a struggle.

In the words of Martin Luther King Jr, “a movement that changes both people and institutions is a revolution.” Let’s hope this revolution is televised—broadcasted and supported! But more importantly, influential in shaping a more diverse audience for tomorrow.

Donations can be made to sponsor girls through the Broadway Education Alliance. To find out more on how you can donate and join the revolution visit HERE.

So much great energy on the @eclipsedbway stage! Love this pic via @eclipsedbway

A photo posted by Broadway Black (@broadwayblack) on Feb 11, 2016 at 11:07am PST

 

#BroadwayBlack Moment w/ @lupita_nyongo & Our Founder @drewshade: You should be following @BroadwayBlack today of ALL days! I’m just saying. & if you haven’t gotten your tickets for Eclipsed with this amazingly talented woman you should really do that soon!

 

A photo posted by Broadway Black (@broadwayblack) on Feb 11, 2016 at 8:57am PST

Broadway producer @Lala Anthony & @eclipsedbway star @vintagepopsoul w/ #BroadwayBlack @ Meet & Greet!

A photo posted by Broadway Black (@broadwayblack) on Feb 11, 2016 at 8:16am PST

 

A historic day! @eclipsedbway press meet & greet! Previews start Feb 23!

 

A photo posted by Broadway Black (@broadwayblack) on Feb 11, 2016 at 7:42am PST

Mood. @eclipsedbway

A photo posted by Broadway Black (@broadwayblack) on Feb 11, 2016 at 8:22am PST

 

A model of the @eclipsedbway set we were just standing on! It truly came to life! You’ll find these pictures & more on BroadwayBlack.com later today!

 

A photo posted by Broadway Black (@broadwayblack) on Feb 11, 2016 at 8:25am PST

A model of the @eclipsedbway set we were just standing on! It truly came to life! You’ll find these pictures & more on BroadwayBlack.com later today!

A photo posted by Broadway Black (@broadwayblack) on Feb 11, 2016 at 8:25am PST

The post The Gift of Theatre: Eclipsed Launches 10,000 Girls Campaign appeared first on Broadway Black.

Anthony recently joined the producing team of the upcoming Broadway production of Eclipsed – the war drama written by playwright and “The Walking Dead” and “All Eyez on Me” actress Danai Gurira that stars Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o.

The play’s successful Off-Broadway run had celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Stevie Wonder, and Common singing its praises and apparently Anthony was impressed, as well.

I am honored to champion and be actively involved in a production with such social and cultural merit and courageous storytelling.

— LA LA (@lala) January 21, 2016

The play, set in 2003 near the end of the civil war in Liberia, is about the survival and resilience of a group of women who are captives of rebels fighting the government. Nyong’o, who made her screen debut in “12 Years a Slave,” stars in the role of the “Girl,” the youngest of four captive wives of a rebel commander.

In addition to Nyong’o, the cast also features several Broadway performers, including Saycon Sengbloh (Hair, The Color Purple and Wicked), as well as Pascale Armand (The Trip to Bountiful), Akosua Busia (Mule Bone), and Zainab Jah (In Darfur).

Eclipsed is directed by Liesl Tommy, who staged the play’s premiere at the Woolly Mammoth Theater in Washington in 2009.

Since getting her start on MTV’s Total Request Live, Anthony has spread her wings and built a solid career in acting and business. She’s currently appearing in the Starz original drama series, “Power”, starring Omari Hardwick and Naturi Naughton. Her other acting credits include “Think Like a Man,” “Think Like a Man, Too”, “Baggage Claim”, and “Two Can Play That Game.” Anthony also has starred in her own reality series “Lala’s Full-Court Life” on VH1. Eclipsed isn’t her first foray into producing as she was a producer on Mike Tyson’s critically acclaimed documentary, “Tyson.”

Previews of Eclipsed begin February 23, 2016, with an official opening March 6, 2016 at the John Golden Theatre.

The post Lala Anthony Signs On To Produce Eclipsed On Broadway appeared first on Broadway Black.

Playwrights Horizons recently announced casting for Familiar, which will feature Ito Aghayere, Joby Earle, Melanie Nicholls-King, Roslyn Ruff, Harold Surratt, Myra Lucretia Taylor, Joe Tippett, and Tony Award winner Tamara Tunie (Spring Awakening). Rebecca Taichman is set to direct.

Previews are scheduled to begin February 12 with an opening night set for March 3 and run through March 27 at Playwrights Horizons’ Mainstage Theater. Familiar had its world premiere at Yale Repertory Theatre in February 2014.

The synopsis is billed as:

It’s winter in Minnesota and a Zimbabwean family is preparing for the wedding of their eldest daughter (Ruff), a first-generation American. But when the bride insists on observing a traditional African custom, it opens a deep rift in the household. Rowdy and affectionate, Familiar pitches tradition against assimilation, drawing a loving portrait of a family: the customs they keep, and the secrets they bury.

Gurira has made it known that she is very interested in getting stories about women of color out there for the world to see. “I want to see women of African descent shine,” Gurira told “Elle” magazine in a recent interview. “I want to see them [in roles] that are intense, that are full, that are complex—that allow them to exercise their chops. I want women of color who are preparing for auditions to stop asking, ‘Where are the monologues? Where are my stories?'”

Tickets to Familiar aren’t yet on sale, but information regarding tickets and the show can be found at the official website , by phone at (212) 279-4200, or by visiting Ticket Central Box Office at 416 West 42nd St., Manhattan.

The post Danai Gurira’s Familiar Announces Casting appeared first on Broadway Black.

Hamilton 

What is a best of 2015 list without Hamilton? Not a list at all. The hip-hop musical about America’s most controversial founding father with its diverse cast and #hamiltunes that will be stuck in your head forever earns its prized spot on the list. Any show capable of selling out for over a year is a winner in my book. #HamilTonys

Invisible Thread 

Did I mention I saw this show four times? I’m not kidding. The only reason it wasn’t more is because I’m not rich and I went home for Christmas break. The show that tells the story of one man’s incredible journey of self and the people’s lives he impacts was a no-brainer on my list. The dancing, the acting, and the singing is enough to bring you in and take you to new places. #Belamusana

The Color Purple 

Of course, The Color Purple was going to make this list. Cynthia Erivo, Danielle Brooks and Jennifer Hudson make their Broadway debuts and they enter with a big ol’ splash. The simplistic styling of this musical requires the actors to give their all and bare it on the stage, which they do every night. I see Tonys in their future.

Whorl Inside A Loop 

No wonder it’s going to Broadway!  It’s that darn good. Second Stage is doing some pretty awesome things over there on 43rd Street, if this show is any indication. It tells the story of an actress teaching prisoners how to tell and act out their personal stories. This show definitely tugged at my heartstrings and now, hopefully, many more will be able to witness its brilliance.

The Gin Game 

Legendary. James Earl Jones and Cicely Tyson sharing the stage again was one of the most amazing moments of 2015. Being able to just be in that room and watch these masters grace the stage effortlessly was a big deal. Black don’t crack, and neither does our ability to memorize scripts and get out there and be amazing eight nights a week.

Barbecue 

The Public Theater also has some hits on their hands. Barbecue centered around family, addiction, and making difficult choices. Written by Obie Award Winning Playwright Robert O’Hara, the play was full of twists and turns that left audiences gasping and guessing about what was going to happen next.

Paradise Blue

Our girl Dominique Morisseau came through. The production is directed by the always amazing Ruben Santiago-Hudson and stars Tony Award-nominee De’Adre Aziza (Passing Strange), Golden Globe-nominee Blair Underwood (A Street Car Named Desire), and Andre Holland. This show, which is the first in a trilogy, made waves at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Like Morisseau herself, I doubt it’s the last you’ll hear about it.

An Octoroon 

An Octoroon (the term “Octoroon” is a person who is one-eighth Black) is all about race in the United States. The brilliant show written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins got its start at Soho Rep and uses satire to get at the United States’ horrible legacy of slavery. Incorporating Black face, red face and everything in between, this show took it there unapologetically. An Octoroon can make an entire audience uncomfortable and force them to face the harsh realities of this “great” nation all in one. After all, art is an imitation of life, right?

Amazing Grace

Gone too soon. The song I sang as a child suddenly held more weight when I finally was able to see this show in the summer. Beautifully and thoroughly executed, Amazing Grace was a gracious piece of theatre that wasn’t afraid to go there. While it may have left Broadway, the cast recording will be enough to keep me going.

Eclipsed 

This is another one that moved from Off-Broadway because of its stellar cast and amazing story. Danai Gurira is genius. Set during the Liberian Civil War, Eclipsed tells the stories of the captive wives of a rebel officer who band together to form a fragile community—until the balance of their lives is upset by the arrival of a new girl. Heartfelt, funny, and mesmerizing are just a few adjectives to describe how great of a show this is.

Special Mention: The Wiz Live!

How could I make a list without The Wiz Live! on it? This show and all of its #melaninmagic captivated audiences everywhere. The old classic story of The Wiz with a modern twist appealed to audiences young and old, and brought together an entire community on Dec. 3rd. That night also made us realize Shanice Williams was going places, Stephanie Mills has still got it, David Alan Grier has some serious pipes, Uzo Aduba and Queen Latifah can do no wrong, Amber Riley was underappreciated on Glee, and “conversate” is an actual word.

Thats our list, what did you see that you put on your list? Sound off in the comments below and check out in-depth information on all of these shows on our site!

The post And The Winner Is…Broadway Black Top 10 of 2015 appeared first on Broadway Black.

And not the “Who made the bad potato salad?” variety.

This reunion has critics and audiences cheering as the Eclipsed cast that riveted theatergoers for 10 weeks at the Public Theater will assemble with lead actress Lupita Nyong’o. This time, they meet for a Broadway run at the John Golden Theatre.

That’s right. Saycon Sengbloh, Pascale Armand, Akosua Busia, and Zainab Jah reprise the roles written by playwright and actress Danai Gurira.  Zombiephiles may know Gurira from her groundbreaking role as the sword-wielding Michonne on AMC’s “The Walking Dead” series.

Eclipsed is a play about endurance and strength for women living through the Liberian Civil War. As previously reported, the play debuted at the Public Theater from September 29 – November 29^th, garnering acclaim and excitement for the Broadway debut.

The original cast has a long list of Broadway theatre credits to their names. Of course, Ms. Nyong’o has that golden statue with the bald head. What is his name again? Oh yeah. Oscar.

The amazing women who collaborated to make Eclipsed also made history. Director Liesl Tommy, Gurira, Nyong’o, and her cast mates, are putting on the first Broadway show to have an all female cast, director and writer. Ever.

Like… Ever.

Previews of Eclipsed begin February 23, 2016, with an official opening March 6, 2016.

As news of the cast announcement hit social media, the elation could hardly be contained. Celebrities have been touting the show’s brilliance for weeks.

Anticipation is building as Gurira dazzles across the talk show circuit. Could the Broadway show deliver during Tony season as well? Time will tell, but tickets for the show are definitely going to be sold out quick. Stay tuned.

The post Original Eclipsed Cast with Lupita Nyong’o Set For Broadway, Will Make History appeared first on Broadway Black.

Author of a show headed to Broadway? Check.

Awarded “Person of the Year” at the African Diaspora Awards? Check.

Leading role on a popular prime time Television series? Check.

While all of these great things were in the works, Danai still found the time to give back. Her giving back was in the form of mentoring her friend (and one of our favorites!) Lupita Nyong’o, through the selection process of which graduate program to attend. Although Nyong’o didn’t choose Gurira’s alma mater, Tisch School of The Arts, the two were still on the same page artistically. In Nyong’o’s first year at Yale, she understudied the role in Eclipsed she would go on to play at The Public Theatre this past fall. As previously reported, Nyong’o will reprise her role when Eclipsed opens on Broadway in February. And to say we cannot wait, is an understatement!

Gurira has a lot to be proud of. Eclipsed, which she penned in 2009, had an extraordinary run at The Public Theatre— it was extended twice and sold out. Her team is equally as impressive and diverse, which adds on to the relevance of her high pressure story telling the personhood of Liberian women “navigating survival during a vicious civil war.” The show is produced by two African-American lead producers, Stephen Byrd and Alia Jones-Harvey. Director Liesl Tommy, who staged the play’s premiere at the Woolly Mammoth Theater in Washington in 2009, is from South Africa. Lupita Nyong’o identifies as Mexican-Kenyan. Lastly, Gurira herself, was born in the United States and raised with her family in Zimbabwe. 

Outside of the playing “ Michonne” in The Walking Dead, Guira appeared in the films “The Visitor” and “Mother of George.” Her stage credits include the role of “ Isabella” in Measure for Measure for which she received the Actor’s Equity Callaway Award. As a playwright, she received an Obie Award, Outer Critics Award, and Helen Hayes Award for In the Continuum. For Eclipsed, Gurira won an NAACP Image Award, the Helen Hayes Award for Best New Play, and the Connecticut Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Production of a Play. Her latest play, will premiere in New York at Playwrights Horizons in February 2016.

The post Danai Gurira Talks Eclipsed And Friendship With Lupita On The Tonight Show appeared first on Broadway Black.

Some notable reviews are:

“Mesmerizing and unmissable.”– New York Magazine

“Scorching and powerful.” – The Guardian 

“A riveting, superbly acted production. Lupita Nyoug’o’s tremendously accomplished performance cuts to the bone. Under Liesl Tommy’s sensitive direction, Danai Gurira’s moving play flickers with light, humanity and hope.” – The New York Times

“Eclipsed pulls us into and holds us captive in a vivid world whose stark horrors are rendered with unflinching honesty and delicate poignancy….” – The Hollywood Reporter

And patrons have repeatedly chimed in:

Powerful, well-acted, and heartbreaking work. Every member of the cast and crew should be proud. #Eclipsed #EclipsedPlay

— hellresidentNY (@hellresidentNY) November 6, 2015

Congrats @aleostar on the successful opening of #Eclipsed !! You always bring out the legends!!Brava! pic.twitter.com/OuWvyGXno4

— Deborah Cox (@Deborah_Cox) October 15, 2015

I just saw the most gut-wrenchingly beautiful/painful/important play I've ever had the privilege to witness. #eclipsed @PublicTheaterNY

— Stephanie Beatriz (@iamstephbeatz) October 20, 2015

Watched #Eclipsed play and it's a must see. Great performances all around from #pascalearmand… https://t.co/oxvnvg1ga9

— Ama K Abebrese (@Ama_K_Abebrese) October 28, 2015

Gurira, Zimbabwean-American playwright and star of AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” introduced the play at Yale Repertory Theatre in Fall 2009, during which Nyong’o had an understudy role and Liesl Tommy served as director. In a New York Times interview spotlighting the trio, Tommy stated: “I think with this play what we’re teaching folks is that there are plenty of interesting stories that happen on the vast continent of Africa, and that you can relate to them without seeing yourself, your race, or a version of yourself in it.”

With critics and audiences stunned, the production – written, directed and performed entirely by female artists – heads to Broadway early next year for a limited engagement at John Golden Theater.Nyong’o, who took home an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the 2013 film “12 Years A Slave,” will make her Broadway debut continuing her portrayal of the newest wife, simply known as “The Girl,” of an unseen rebel tyrant.

Gurira debuted on Broadway in 2009 for August Wilson‘s  Joe Turner’s Come and Gone. She followed it up with In the Continuum, which earned her Obie and Outer Critic Circles awards. Her work Familiar will open at Playwrights Horizons in the spring.

Eclipsed – the only new play by a woman on Broadway this season – will open March 6, with previews beginning Feb. 23. Set to run through June 19, it is produced by Stephen Byrd and Alia Jones-Harvey of Front Row Productions.

Public Theater art director Oskar Eustis is quoted as saying: “Broadway will be better for having Eclipsed on it, and I hope it will break a barrier that will stay broken, if it proves that shows like this can make it on Broadway.”

Eclipsed has won an NAACP Award, the Helen Hayes Award (Best New Play) and Connecticut Critics Circle Award (Outstanding Production of a Play). The cast currently includes Pascale Armand, Akosua Busia, Zainab Jah and Saycon Sengbloh.

Tickets for the Broadway run are on sale HERE.

The post Eclipsed Enters Final Week At Public Theater, Broadway On Horizon appeared first on Broadway Black.