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.

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This year’s festival, which runs August 3^rd through August 8th, boasts celebrity co-chairs Debbie Morgan  and Darnell Williams well known as the beloved Black power couple “Angie and Jessie” on the soap opera “All My Children”. Additionally, theatre goers will have the opportunity to attend “The Monkey on My Back” (An Intimate Evening with Debbi Morgan) which details memoirs of her life and legacy. After a stirring celebrity processional replete with African drummers and dancers, attendees of the opening night gala will be treated to an awards presentation. Check out our previous article on this year’s honorees.

The headlining event of the festival this year will be “Black Stars of the Great White Way: A Chapman Roberts Concept” produced by Chapman Roberts. The concert has been described as a “soaring music and dance celebration of the glorious 100 year history of African Americans on Broadway and at Carnegie Hall. This Gala All Broadway Star Production is specifically designed to honor NBTF luminaries past and present”. The concert will include tributes to Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Louis Jordan, Eubie Blake, Fats Waller, Louis Armstrong and Noble Sissle. This star studded concert will include the likes of Melba Moore, Jackee Harry, Harold Wheeler, Hattie Winston, Obba Babatunde, Maurice Hines, Alyson Williams, Norm Lewis, Andre Deshields, Larry Marshall, Peggi Blu, Longineu Parsons, Jeffresy Anderson-Gunter, Kirk Taylor, Jacob Wheeler, Dawnn Lewis and Jermaine Coles. Selections from beloved productions of Eubie, Bubbling Brown Sugar, Sunset Boulevard, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, The Wiz  and the film “Selma,” will highlight the rich history of Black Broadway Theatre.

According to the website, this year’s festival promises a multitude of “…electrifying performances, informative workshops, riveting films and insightful spoken word poetry that will open your eyes to a new perspective on our culture’s artistic endeavors. Every evening culminates with a Celebrity Reception, Midnight Readers’ Theatre and the Midnight Poetry Jam.” Festival attendees should keep their eyes out for popular productions such as “Letter from Zora: In Her Own Words” performed by OPAS (Los Angeles, CA)  , “The Eve of Jackie: A Tribute to Jackie Wilson” performed by Chess, Not Checkers, Inc. (New York, NY), , “At Last: A Tribute to Etta James” performed by Black Ensemble Theater (Chicago, IL) and “The Bluest Eye” performed by North Carolina Central University (Durham, NC)

This year’s lineup promises to be an exciting and powerful celebration of Black Theatre for both festival veterans and newcomers. Avid festival attendee and supporter Wendell Tabb, Chair of Visual and Performing arts at Hillside High School says the following about the festival “I have had the pleasure of attending the Theatre Festival since 1989. Many of my former Hillside Theatre students perform at the Festival with Theatre Companies from around the world. The National Black Theatre Festival has helped jumpstart so many professional careers and has afforded great opportunities for artist to develop and showcase their works. The vision and legacy of the late Larry Leon Hamlin continues to shine through the hearts of many. I am extremely grateful and honored to be a part of Black Theatre” in the words of Larry Leon Hamlin that’s Marvtastic!

Tickets are currently available online at ww.nbtf.org . Connect with the festival on Facebook.

View a full list of the 2015 NBTF Honorees HERE

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The North Carolina Black Repertory Company was founded in 1979 and is the state’s first professional Black theatre. NCBRC also partners with many community programs to enrich the youth of Winston-Salem and many of these partnerships are part of the festival. Founder Larry Leon Hamlin intends for this event to “illuminate the powerful theatrical spirit and extraordinary talent of Black performers, designers, directors, producers, and technicians from across the country and abroad.” and it is truly shaping up to be nothing less than extraordinary.

This year’s honorees include Bill Cobbs who is receiving the Sidney Poitier Lifelong Achievement Award for his work as an actor for over the past 40 years. Cobbs worked with the Negro Ensemble Company and has been in countless films and television shows including New Jack City, The Bodyguard, and Ghosts of Mississippi.

Katori Hall is the recipient of the August Wilson Playwright Award. Hall has become one the theater world’s most sought after playwrights winning the 2010 Olivier Award for Best New Play (The Mountaintop) and her most recent work Blood Quilt was previously featured here on Broadway Black

Among the Living Legend Award honorees this year is the iconic Grace Jones. Jones has been on the cutting edge of music, fashion, and acting for the past 4 decades. With her eclectic chart-topping albums, starring roles in films such as A View to a Kill, Boomerang, and Shaka Zulu: The Last Great Warrior, and her unforgettable presence- the mere mention of her name evokes fearlessness and stunning beauty that transfers into her music, her work, and her life.

There are so many powerhouse talents and organizations being honored this year for the festival performer/choreographer Maurice Hines (Eubie, Sophisticated Ladies), costume designer Emilio Sosa aka ESOSA (The Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess, Motown: The Musical) , as well as the 100 year old theatre, The Karamu House. See the entire list below.

2015 NATIONAL BLACK THEATRE FESTIVAL® HONOREES

Sidney Poitier Lifelong Achievement Award
Bill Cobbs
Larry Leon Hamlin Producer Award
Nate Jacobs
Emerging Producer Award
Erich McMillan-McCall
August Wilson Playwright Award
Katori Hall
Lloyd Richards Director Award
Clinton Turner Davis
Living Legend Award
A. Peter Bailey
Maurice Hines
Robert Hooks
Grace Jones
Hattie Winston
Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design
ESOSA
Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Design
Allen Lee Hughes
Outstanding Achievement in Scenic Design
Harlan Penn
Theatre Longevity Award
The Carpetbag Theatre, Inc. – Knoxville, TN
Special Recognition Award
Karamu House (100 years old)
Cleveland, OH
Special Recognition Award
Rachel P. Jackson
Marvtastic Philanthrophy Award
The Millennium Fund
Theatre Arts & Humanitarian Award
Warren Dell Leggett

The 2015 National Black Theatre Festival is August 3rd- August 8th in Winston-Salem, NC. For more information, tickets, and a complete list of the artists and organizations being honored this year, visit www.nbtf.org

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Founded by Larry Leon Hamlin with the support of Dr. Maya Angelou in 1989, the National Black Theatre Festival has become the most significant event in Black American theatre history. NBTF is held biennially and attracts more than 65,000 people during the week long event. Throughout the six days there is an Opening Night Gala, Celebrity Receptions, Readers’ Theatre of New Works, National Black Film Fest, the Youth Celebrity Project, Midnight Poetry Jam, TeenTastic (Collaborative Teen Initiative), International Colloquium, International Vendor’s Market, NBTF Fringe, Author’s Pavilion, Artists Networking Showcase, Workshops and Seminars, the Larry Leon Hamlin Solo Performance Series, and 35 Black Theatre Companies from across the country and abroad offering over 100 performances.

This is sure to be an incredible event for the world of Black Theatre! You have to go at least once and this is your year. You can’t be a part of the community and have never gone to the National Black Theatre Festival For more information on the National Black Theatre Festival and its history visit nbtf.org.

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Broadway Black stars have shown up and show out this year!

Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins (Caroline, or Change, Jelly’s Last Jam) is the 2013 celebrity co-chair, along with actor Dorien Wilson (The Parkers).  Pinkins will also perform her new solo show Tonya Pinkins: Unplugged.

Tony nominees S. Epatha Merkerson (Come Back, Little Sheba, The Piano Lesson) and Paul Tazewell (A Streetcar Named Desire, The Color Purple) are among the 2013 NBTF honorees

The legendary Tony Award winning Lillias White (Dreamgirls, Fela!) will perform BIG MAYBELLE: Soul of the Blues, written and directed by Paul Levine.

Two-time Tony Award nominee André De Shields (The Wiz, Ain’t Misbehavin’) will star in Woodie King Jr.’s New Federal Theatre production of Knock Me a Kiss.

Chester Gregory (Sister Act, Hairspray) is back with his new play The Eve of Jackie: A Tribute to Jackie Wilson.

Actor and Playwright Regina Taylor’s (I‘ll Fly Away, The Unit) gospel musical Crowns will be staged by the North Carolina Black Repertory Company

Rain Pryor will perform her off-Broadway hit Fried Chicken & Latkas.

The Negro Ensemble Company presents Women in the Pit starring the 2013 NBTF Sidney Poitier Lifelong Achievement Award Recipient Hal Williams (227, Sanford & Son).

Tony Award nominated Norm Lewis (Porgy & Bess, Les Misérables) and Hattie Winston (The Tap Dance Kid, Hair) are also in attendance along with many other film and television stars.

For more information about the National Black Theatre Festival visit: www.NBTF.org

We’re actually here at the festival this year and we’ll be bringing to reviews and sightings here! Check our instagram as well!

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