Black theatre. A space of inspired creativity, performance art and social commentary on the lives of everyday people. As the curtains open and our stories unfold, we are transported to a place where our dreams and realities intermingle with song, dance and powerful dialogue. When the curtains close and the theatre goes dark, we are left with emotions, memories, images and often quotes that reflect the highs and lows of African American existence.

Let’s take a moment and revisit, in no particular order, ten inspirational quotes from some of our favorite pieces.

1. On loving one another:

“There is always something left to love. And if you ain’t learned that, you ain’t learned nothing.” – Loraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun

2. Beginning a journey into the unknown:

“Count your blessings, cut your losses and follow the yellow brick road.” –The Wiz

3. Because sometimes your dreams are right there in front of you:

“Ev’ry man has his own special dream. And your dream’s just about to come true. Life’s not as bad as it may seem, if you open your eyes to what’s in front of you!” –Dreamgirls

4. On choices:

“When the sins of our fathers visit us, we do not have to play host. We can banish them with forgiveness as God, in His Largeness and Laws.” ― August Wilson, Fences

5. On our own divinity:

“I am an expression of the divine, just like a peach is, just like a fish is. I have a right to be this way…I can’t apologize for that, nor can I change it, nor do I want to… We will never have to be other than who we are in order to be successful…We realize that we are as ourselves unlimited and our experiences valid. It is for the rest of the world to recognize this, if they choose.” – Alice Walker, The Color Purple

6. On relaxing and enjoying the moment:

“Summertime, and the living is easy.” –Porgy and Bess

7. On learning to love yourself:

“I found god in myself and I loved her. I loved her fiercely” –Ntozake Shange, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf

8. On personal empowerment and survival:

“I’m poor, black; I may even be ugly. But dear God! I’m here! I’m here! –Alice Walker, The Color Purple

9. On getting yourself together to fulfill your potential:

“Look inside yourself, Simba. You are more than you have become; take your place in the circle of life.” –The Lion King

10. On being okay with starting over:

“I ain’t never found no place for me to fit. Seem like all I do is start over. It ain’t nothing to find no starting place in the world. You just start from where you find yourself.” ― August Wilson, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

 

Now, tell us what are some of your favorite inspirational quotes from African American theatre? Drop your favorites in the comments!

The post Inspirational Quotes For The Black Theatre Lover appeared first on Broadway Black.

The series, which airs on the Disney Channel and Disney Junior, chronicles an African American girl named Dottie “Doc” McStuffins who decides she wants to become a doctor like her mother. She practices her dream by fixing toys and dolls. When she puts on her stethoscope, toys, dolls and stuffed animals come to life and she can interact with them. With help from her stuffed animal friends – “Stuffy the Dragon,” “Hallie the Hippo,” “Lambie the Lamb,” and “Chilly the Snowman” – Doc helps toys recover, or “feel better,” by giving them checkups and diagnosing their illnesses with an encyclopedia called “The Big Book of Boo Boos.”

McDonald is featured in the episode entitled “Itty Bitty Bess Takes Flight.” Her character, “Bess,” is the pilot of a tiny tin airplane. Doc and the toys help her get back into shape after her joints become rusty.

McDonald introduces and voices her character:

McDonald sings a song about her animated character:

In 2014, the extraordinarily talented McDonald made Broadway history with a record-setting sixth Tony Award for her portrayal of Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill. She also has the distinction of being the first person to receive awards in all four acting categories.

A year after graduating from Julliard, McDonald won her first Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for Carousel at Lincoln Center Theater. She received two additional Tony Awards in the featured actress category over the next four years for her performances in the Broadway premieres of Terrence McNally’s Master Class (1996) and his musical Ragtime (1998). In 2004, she won her fourth Tony, starring alongside Sean Combs and Phylicia Rashad in A Raisin in the Sun. In 2012, she won her fifth–and her first in the leading actress category–for her role in The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess.

In addition to her Tony Awards, Audra McDonald’s luminous soprano has garnered her two Grammy Awards and a long list of other accolades.

“Doc McStuffins” also features the voices of Kiara Muhammad as the lead character as well as veteran Broadway and film actress Loretta Devine as “Hallie”, Kimberly Brooks as “Dr. Myiesha McStuffins” (Doc McStuffins’ mother) and Gary Anthony Williams as “Marcus McStuffins” (Doc McStuffins’ father).

The post Audra McDonald Soars In Doc McStuffins appeared first on Broadway Black.

This year comedian, presenter and acclaimed, award-winning actor Lenny Henry hosted.

Among the nominees were Brandon Victor Dixon for his role in Scottsboro Boys at Garrick Theatre in London. Beverly Knight for her role in Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre. Both were nominated as leading actor and actress in a musical respectively. Watch them both talk about their nominations below along with Rolan Bell for his nomination for supporting role in Memphis The Musical. Not shown in av video below is Jason Pennycooke for his nomination for supporting role for Memphis The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre

Memphis The Musical took home the Oliviers for Best Sound Design and Best Choreography.

But were nominated for a total of 7 Oliviers

• Autograph Sound Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music
• Best Actor in a Musical
• MasterCard Best New Musical
• Best Actress in a Musical
• Best Costume Design (Paul Tazwell)
• Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
• Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical

Also, among the nominees:

For Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre

Juma Sharkah for her performance in Liberian Girl at the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court

Tanya Moodie for her performances in Intimate Apparel at Park Theatre and The House That Will Not Stand at Tricycle Theatre

For Magic Radio Best Musical Revival

The Gershwins’ Porgy And Bess  at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Now watch the performances from these shows below, as well as video performances from the pre-show on ITV. We’ve even included the one of Nicole Scherzinger singing Memory from Cats.

CONGRATS TO ALL THE NOMINEES AND WINNERS!

The post The Best Of The 2015 Olivier Awards: Everything You Need To Know appeared first on Broadway Black.