"School Girls; or the African Mean Girls Play" by Jocelyn Bioh at True Colors Theatre, March 2020. Photo by Tyrrell Harrell.

Black History Month #28DaysofBlackPlays

Post published:February 19, 2020
Post category:Diversity in the theater Theater
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During the month of February, I am posting a different post about a black playwright on Facebook everyday. I am compiling the posts here so that the links and resources are easily accessible after the month is over. Happy reading! February 3 Okay, so I'm starting my first day of posting a different play by a black playwright for the…

A report from the American Theatre Critics Association 2019 convening in NYC

Post published:November 6, 2019
Post category:Arts Criticism Diversity in the theater Theater
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Last weekend, the American Theatre Critics Association hosted its fall convening at MCC Theatre in midtown Manhattan. The days were packed with panel discussions and vigorous discussions about the state of theater criticism and the urgent need to diversify the field. The group is still very much divided on these issues as many veteran theater critics in the field see…

My first National Black Theatre Festival

Post published:August 5, 2019
Post category:Diversity in the theater Theater
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I just got back in town from the National Black Theatre Festival where I saw five shows in three days. (There were more than 40 to choose from.) Thousands of people flocked to Winston-Salem, North Carolina for the 30th annual event, which features theater made about black people, with black people, for black people. I was there with the American…

Hamilton Orpheum Theatre Cast Michael Luwoye, Joshua Henry, and Rory O’Malley, Rubén J. Carbajal as John Laurens/Phillip Hamilton; Jordan Donica as Marquis De Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson; Amber Iman as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds; Isaiah Johnson as George Washington; Solea Pfeiffer as Eliza Hamilton; Emmy Raver-Lampman as Angelica Schuyler; and Mathenee Treco as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison, Ryan Alvarado, Raymond Baynard, Amanda Braun, Daniel Ching, Karli Dinardo, Jeffery Duffy, Jennifer Geller, Jacob Guzman, Julia Harriman, Afra Hines, Sabrina Imamura, Lauren Kias, Yvette Lu, Desmond Newson, Desmond Nunn, Josh Andrés Rivera, Raven Thomas, Ryan Vasquez, Keenan D. Washington, and Andrew Wojtal.

I finally saw #Hamilton. Here’s what I thought.

Post published:October 14, 2018
Post category:Arts Criticism Diversity in the theater
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I remember a few years ago, one of my good actor friends in NYC called me raving about a new musical he saw called Hamilton at The Public Theater. He poured over it using words like "amazing," "genius" and "Broadway bound." Sure enough, he called it and less than a year later it was the hottest ticket on the Great…

Pearl Cleage revisits “Blues for an Alabama Sky”

Post published:April 20, 2015
Post category:Diversity in the theater My published work Q&As with theater artists Theater
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I had the opportunity to meet playwright/novelist Pearl Cleage for the first time while I was a contractor for the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta. At the time, I was helping the theatre re-imagine its community engagement programs, and Pearl was hosting a series called "Page to Stage with Pearl Cleage." "Page to Stage" was a pre-show talk Pearl conducted with…

Real Women Have Curves

Post published:April 10, 2015
Post category:Diversity in the theater My published work
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Seven years ago I played the role of Rosali in the play Real Women Have Curves at The University of Georgia, which changed my view of theatre forever. The play was written by Chicana playwright Josefina Lopez in 1995. Dealing with issues of immigration, domestic violence, body image, and feminism, the play resonates with audiences today. Recently, I had the…