47th Season
Celebrate. Liberate.
Participate With NBT!
THEATER ARTS PROGRAM
Dedicated To The Policing of the Black Body
MAIN STAGE PRODUCTIONS:
October 28 - November 23, 2015
Opening Night November 2
NEW YORK PREMIERE of
written by Chisa Hutchinson
directed by Jonathan McCrory
Cranky old broad, Carolyn Whitlock, has been in hospice for far too long and just wants to die already. When she tries to convince a loud, oversharing, and very Christian nurse to assist her suicide, she has to work harder than she ever has in her privileged life to end it. Through surprising humor and persistent questioning, DEAD & BREATHING investigates morality, mortality and the intense tug-of-war between the right to die with dignity and the idea of life as a gift.
April 20 - May 15, 2016
Opening Night April 23
Co-Production with HiArts
NEW YORK PREMIERE of
The Penn State Centre Stage Production of
written by Dominique Morisseau
directed by Steve H Broadnax III
Inspired by the events surrounding the “Jena Six”, playwright Dominique Morisseau masterfully crafts a story that explores the experiences of a group of high school students desperately trying to define themselves and navigate around those who identify themselves differently. When the desire for change erupts within them, they find themselves powerless and are thus forced to confront and engage “the other” in order to move their community forward.
March 24 - 28, 2016
The New Black Fest’s (in collaboration with playwright Dominique Morisseau)
HAIR BODY ATTITUDE-SHORT PLAYS BY BLACK WOMEN
written by Jocelyn Bioh, Chisa Hutchinson,
Lenelle Moïse, Nikkole Salter, and Cori Thomas
directed by Elizabeth Van Dyke &
Kaia Calhoun
In the tradition of Facing Our Truth: Short Plays on Trayvon, Race, and Privilege and HANDS UP: 6 Playwrights, 6 Testaments, The New Black Fest (in collaboration with playwright Dominique Morisseau) commissioned five Black women playwrights to dig deeper and participate in the national conversation around Black womanhood and social perceptions of black femininity, providing black women a creative platform to personalize these issues.
February 25 - 28, 2016
written by Aurin Squire
directed by Ebony Noelle Golden
Set in a dystopic future in an asylum for the criminally insane,"Zoohouse" is a twisted tale about who has narrative authority, where we keep history, and whose lives matter. The psychological and social, sexual and political, public and private, fuel the inmates on a dark and surreal ride toward an explosive conclusion.
Zoohouse was developed in the I Am Soul - Playwright Residency Program.
February 14, 2016
BLACK LOVE:
MY VALENTINE
​
Live Music:
Audible Chocolate
&
The Award Winning, Funny, Poignant & Sexy
One Woman Show
SHE GON' LEARN
written & performed by Lisa Strum
directed by Ngozi Anyanwu
Year-Round Programs:
Keep Soul Alive Mondays–Reading Series
Start Date: September 14, 2015
The Keep Soul Alive Mondays - Reading Series is a monthly reading series that will showcase the works of nineteen (19) Black Playwrights kicking off our 47th Season September 14, 2014. The readings take place on Mondays at 7:30 pm at National Black Theatre. Each reading is free with a suggested donation of $10. To learn more information please look on our website.
I Am Soul - Playwright Residency
In celebration of almost a half a century of nurturing Black playwrights, National Black Theatre is proud to announce the expansion of this program to support two more. The newest residents for the I Am Soul - Playwright Resident program are Dennis A. Allen II and Nambi E. Kelley. Through the program, Allen and Kelley will be supported in developing a new play during a eighteen month residency, which will culminate in a Workshop Production in NBT’s 48th Season. To learn more information please look on our website. Learn More Here
COMMUNICATION ARTS PROGRAM
Year-Round Program:
Dramaturgical Lobby Exhibitions
NBT will be curating five (5) exhibitions that will showcase the works of such world renown artists such as Chief Nike Davies Okundaye. These exhibitions stem from the founder’s vision to create a complete theatrical experience. More information to come!
Symposiums:
Fall 2015 & Spring 2016
​
CELEBRATION OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH:
Dates: MARCH 2016
Continuing on the celebration from last year, during Women's History Month, NBT will be curating a three (3) events that celebrates the impact Black Women have had on the gobal society. More information to come!
​
THE HIGH PRIEST OF YORUBALAND COMES TO HARLEM
On May 3, 7:00 PM, National Black Theatre is honored to again host world renowned authority on the Yoruba Culture: The Honorable Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon from Osun State, Nigeria. This event will take place at NBT's home, 2031 Fifth Avenue on 125th Street, New York City. The Araba is a world-renowned Ifa priest, author, playwright, poet, recording and performing artist. Araba Ifayemi's film - Àkosèjayé: Road Map of All Mankind', will be screened. Àkosèjayé is a theatrical film production of the Àkosèjayé ceremony performed by an Ifá priest for a three-day-old baby to determine his or her life's path. What is his or her mission on the planet? The Araba will also be signing his latest book, 'The Adventures of Obatala: Ifa and Santeria God of Creativity, Volume 1 (Revised Edition)'.
​
TEER Spirit Awards Gala [Founder's Day]
Date: June 18, 2016
The Eighth Annual TEER Spirit Awards Gala will recognizes 48 years NBT has impacted this community, while honoring visionaties within the community that exemplify the attributes of three pioneers within National Black Theatre’s history: Dr. Barbara Ann Teer, NBT’s Founder & Visionary, Adetunde Samuel, a charismatic producer who headed NBT’s award winning Theatre Arts Program, and Fredrica L. Teer, an institution builder who conceived and organized the foundation that made the idea of National Black Theatre a reality. Outside of these awards, National Black Theatre honors a Pioneer of Black Theatre and gives Trail Blazer to individuals for outstanding contributions to their community. The Teer Spirit Awards was inaugurated in 2008 after the passing of Dr. Barbara Ann Teer, the founder of the National Black Theatre. June 18th is the birth date of Dr. Barbara Ann Teer and is called Founder’s Day.
WORKSHOP PRODUCTIONS:
Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's
National Black Theatre
Institute of Action Arts