Closing the Great Divide
The success of Black artists should be good for Black theatres, but too often there’s a disconnect.
Category Archives: The State of Black Theatre
It’s not just cinema that is having a much-ballyhooed Wakanda moment. Theatres across the U.S. are staging a wider array than ever of plays reflecting varied experiences of the African American diaspora. But are Black-run institutions faring as well as some individual artists, and getting the credit and funding they deserve for building audiences and careers? This issue looks at the state of Black arts onstage from creative, business, and justice angles.
Black Theatres in the U.S.: Building, Surviving, Thriving
The nation’s African American theatres are as various as the experiences and regions they represent, though they share some common goals and hurdles.
We’re Going to Need a Bigger Table
A new wave of Black playwrights has upended the myth of the singular genius, even as tokenism and constraining expectations persist.
Finding Wakanda Within
Last fall’s International Black Theatre Summit looked for ways to capitalize on Black cultural success.
Black Theatres Across the U.S.
A listing of arts organizations dedicated to producing stage work about the African American and Black experience, and to developing artists and audiences of color.
How Becoming HIV+ Turned Me Into a Playwright
It took the worst news and deepest doubts of my life to lead me to my voice and my subject: exploring Black queer love.
Chuck Smith, Charles Smith, and a South Side Friendship
Their partnership has brought Chicago some great theatre, once folks got past confusing their names.
A Sneak Preview of 2019’s National Black Theatre Festival
North Carolina Black Repertory Company is preparing another can’t-miss biennial week of new work, networking, and mentorship opportunities.
Playwright J.e. Franklin’s Southern Spirit
The writer best known for ‘Black Girl’ discusses her long career, ranging from the Civil Rights era to today.
