Backstage Stories

  Jackie Jeffries & Charles Reese Seven Black Plays On Broadway Fall 2021 Dear All! Some of my good friends and me had a delightful conversation about the New York theatre season thus far. West coast-based actor and 'cultural architect for community engagement' Charles Reese traveled 3,000 miles to take in the unprecedented number of plays by Black writers on Broadway. Also aboard was Jackie Jeffries, president of AUDELCO, Inc, the producer of the Annual Viv Awards that honor excellence in Black Theater.  Listen to our conversation here that originally aired on Nov 25 at 9 pm on my radio show Backstage Stories heard on on WBAI 99.5 FM and streaming at www.wbai.org. Below are details about the seven Black plays on the Great White Way! Best regards, Marcia Pendelton   Pass Over by Antoinette Chinonyee Nwandu directed by Danya Taymor Jon Michael Hill, Namir Smallwood, Gabriel Ebert In PASS OVER, Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu’s "powerful and provocative" (Arifa Akb

  A Day Of Solidarity For Black Theatre In the final moment of Alice’s Childress’ TROUBLE IN MIND (TIM) the main character, Willetta Mayer recites Psalms 133:  “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.”   This verse urges us to come together in oneness; as one—in unity.  It is Childress’ final appeal—a call to action—to her intended audience.  This final moment, is what inspired me to create and lead a grassroots movement, known as, Project1VOICE.  With this in mind, five Black theater service organizations— Black Theatre Network, Black Theatre United, The  Craft Institute, The International Black Theatre Summit and Project1VOICE—have come together to produce a virtual day of solidarity for Black theaters.  The date is Thursday, November 18, 2021.  On this day, we ask all in the field, to join us, in celebrating and honoring the rich, vast legacy of Black theater.  This day also marks, the history-making Broadway opening of Alice Childress’ TIM,

  HARLEM STAGE AWARDED $2 MILLION FROM THE ANDREW W. MELLON FOUNDATION CARL HANCOCK RUX JOINS HARLEM STAGE IN NEWLY CREATED ROLE AS ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR/CURATOR-IN-RESIDENCE New hire is part of Harlem Stage’s strategic, five-year transformation plan supported by Mellon grant Harlem Stage, the legendary uptown performing arts venue led by artistic director and CEO, Patricia Cruz , today announced that multidisciplinary artist Carl Hancock Rux joins the organization in a newly created role as associate artistic director/curator-in-residence . The hire is a major component of Harlem Stage’s strategic, five-year transformation plan as an artist-led and artist-managed organization, to strengthen and nurture leadership roles and employment opportunities for artists of color. Rux will work with the senior management team to design and execute Harlem Stage’s commissioning and artist development program, its related education programs, and the presenting schedule (including curating ar

  Ephraim Sykes   to Join   Walter Bobbie, Jennifer Damiano,     Brandon Victor Dixon, Tamika Lawrence, Tracy Shayne,     Theo Stockman, Tariq Trotter and Lillias White in   “Black No More”          A New Musical     with     Book by     John Ridley           Music and Lyrics by   Tariq Trotter       Choreography by     Bill T. Jones       Music Supervision, Orchestrations     and Vocal Arrangements by       Daryl Waters       Directed by     Scott Elliott       World Premiere Engagement from        THE NEW GROUP Begins January 11, 2022 with Official Opening Night on Tuesday, February 8 at The Pershing Square Signature Center (The Irene Diamond Stage, 480 West 42nd Street) TICKETS ON SALE NOW   The New Group   proudly announces that   Ephraim Sykes   ( Ain’t Too Proud , Tony Award nominee;   Hamilton ) will join the cast of the world premiere production of   Black No More .     This new musical, inspired by George S. Schuyler’s 1931 novel of the same name, features Book by   John Ridle

  Joshua Boone Joins the Cast   Emilio Sosa , Jimmy Keys aka “J. Keys,” and Chesney Snow Join the Creative Team for Skeleton Crew     Casting Now Complete for the Broadway Premiere by Tony Award Nominee Dominique Morisseau     Directed by Tony Award Winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson   Performances Begin Tuesday, December 21, 2021 Opening Wednesday, January 12, 2022 At MTC’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre   Manhattan Theatre Club  ( Lynne Meadow , Artistic Director and  Barry Grove , Executive Producer) is pleased to announce the full cast and creative team for MTC’s Broadway premiere of  Skeleton Crew , written by Tony Award nominee  Dominique Morisseau  and directed by Tony Award winner  Ruben Santiago-Hudson .   Joshua Boone  ( Actually  at MTC,  Network ,  A Jazzman’s Blues ) joins the previously announced  Chanté  Adams  (A Journal for Jordan),  Brandon J.  Dirden   ( Jitney  at MTC),  Adesola  Osakalumi  ( Fela!) , and Tony Award® winner and five-time Emmy Award nominee  Phylicia Rashad  (