Madison Wells Live Along With LaChanze & Taraji P. Henson Join MTC As Producers Of JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING

 

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, sixty-six years after it premiered Off-Broadway and sixty-four years, after it’s planned Broadway transfer, was cancelled in 1957.  We also come together to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the African Grove Theater—the nation’s first Black theater—founded in 1821. 

We ask all in the field to post digital images of any production(s), programming and/events your organization has produced, featuring the work of Alice Childress, the social media platform(s) of your choice.  All posts must be completed by 12PM EST on November 18, 2021.  We will all use the same heading Congratulations Alice Childress!  and the same hashtags:  #blacktheatrelegacy, #AliceChildressWrites! #200years&counting.  Sharing the same hashtags and heading strengthens our collective voices.  However, if your organization has not produced works by Childress, feel free to post other digital images of Ms. Childress, using the directive explained above.  Theaters that participated in the inaugural One Play One Day event on June 20, 2011, are asked to use photos, posters and/or programs, from their staged readings of TIM.  This will help identify all 18 participating theaters.  

Black theater is a continuum of unwavering and unapologetic voices, whose legacy and tradition is firmly rooted in artistic excellence.   This legacy spans generations, from our ancestors, to the present and to those yet to be born.  Our collective strength—our village—will lead us to the better future, that is always ours to claim.