In White America clearly illustrates that American history and African American history is truly one in separable story. It is an historical journey from colonial America up to the landmark Brown versus the Board of Education in 1954.

The play is drawn from historical records and original recorded stories told by former slaves. The plays major theme is the quest for freedom and equality–a theme that is deeply integrated in the 46 year history of the new federal theater.

The New Federal Theatre’s Woodie King Jr. says that the play illustrates the historical background of injustices which are still happening now. He states, “I am producing the 50th anniversary production of In White America because it’s like watching history repeat itself. Duberman’s research was 50 years ahead of its time. The play actually shows that American History and African American History are really one story.”

The cast includes Blair Baker, Ezra Barnes, Art McFarland, Joanna Rhinehart, Bill Tatum, Shane Taylor and Bill Toles. Scenic design is by Chris Cumberbatch. Costume design is by Gail Cooper-Hecht. Lighting design is by Shirley Prendergast. Musical arrangements are by Bill Toles. Charles Maryan, the director, stage managed the original Off-Broadway production.

The post New Federal Theatre Presents In White America By Martin Duberman appeared first on Broadway Black.

Among the veteran artists are: playwright/screenwriter Richard Wesley, 70; founding director of New Federal Theatre Woodie King Jr., 78; and actor/director Arthur French, 84. They will share memories and reflections chronicling their rich, artistic lives.

Wesley, associate professor at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and chair of the Rita and Burton Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing.  His 1971 play The Black Terror, produced at the New York Shakespeare Festival’s Public Theatre, was a Drama Desk winner, produced at the New York Shakespeare Festival’s Public Theatre. He wrote the screenplays for Uptown Saturday Night (1974) and it’s follow-up Let’s Do It Again (1975), both which starred Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier.  His The Mighty Gents, an Audelco Award winner, premiered on Broadway in 1978, while The Talented Tenth (1989)  was inspired by W.E.B. Du Bois’ 1903 article of the same name.

French, an original member of Negro Ensemble Company led by Douglas Turner Ward, made his Broadway debut in Melvin Van Peebles’ Ain’t Supposed To Die a Natural Death. Having films credits with “Car Wash” (1976), Julie Delpy’s “2 Days In New York” (2012) and Spike Lee’s “Red Hook Summer” (2012), French has thrived on smaller stages. He received a Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in Peter Norton Space’s 2006 production of Two Trains Running.

King, who founded New Federal Theater in 1970, received Atlanta Black Theatre Fesitival’s 2014 Theatre Legend Award and was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2011. His production work has included several installments of Ron Milner’s Checkmates; August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson and Joe Turner’s Come and Gone; Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun; Samm-Art Williams’ Home; and Howard Simon’s James Baldwin: A Soul on Fire.

Other artists to be celebrated include: photographer Dwight Carter and founding member of The Last Poets Abiodun Oyewole, 67. Interestingly, Oct. 17 is recognized as National Black Poetry Day. All the featured artists are poets in their own right.

Scott, an actress, director, playwright and cultural historian, has Off-Broadway and regional theater credits that include The Old Globe in San Diego, Yale Rep and Roundabout Theater in New York. She won a Drama Desk Award for her Broadway debut in My Sister, My Sister.

The event starts at 7pm. The National Black Theatre is located at 2031 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10035.

For more information visit the VENUE or EVENT PAGE.

The post Veteran Black Artists Reflect On Artistic Lives In INSIGHT/SECOND SIGHT appeared first on Broadway Black.

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.

The post Atlanta Black Theatre Festival Showcases Emerging Artists appeared first on Broadway Black.

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!

The post 2013 National Black Theatre Festival appeared first on Broadway Black.