Black Writers

Featured image for “A Pan of Buttermilk Biscuits: Purlie Victorious and Sustenance”
June 13, 2024

A Pan of Buttermilk Biscuits: Purlie Victorious and Sustenance

Hasna Muhammad, daughter of playwright/actor Ossie Davis, reflects on her father’s play Purlie Victorious and its connection to food and sustenance.
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Featured image for “Is God Is: Revitalizing Australian Theatre”
August 30, 2023

Is God Is: Revitalizing Australian Theatre

Is God Is, the breakout hit by playwright Aleshea Harris, is a triumph for the Australian theatre scene in a current Melbourne Theatre Company and Sydney Theatre Company co-production. We spoke to the stars of the production, Henrietta Enyonam Amevor and Masego Pitso, who are best friends in real life and on stage.
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Featured image for “Black Voices in Theatre Before and After A Raisin in the Sun”
February 8, 2022

Black Voices in Theatre Before and After A Raisin in the Sun

A Raisin in the Sun was a turning point in the history of the American Theatre, but little is often written about the work of the Black writers who preceded Hansberry. This article takes a look at what came before Raisin, what changed with the legendary play’s premiere, and what came after.
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Featured image for “A Joyous Shock: One Student’s Response to What to Send Up When It Goes Down”
September 2, 2021

A Joyous Shock: One Student’s Response to What to Send Up When It Goes Down

This summer at BAM, several high school students engaged with Aleshea Harris’ What to Send Up When it Goes Down through a six-week interactive workshop. Gabriella Officer-Narvasa recounts her transformative experience.
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Featured image for “August Wilson’s American Century Cycle: 10 Plays About the Black Experience in the 20th Century”
February 10, 2021

August Wilson’s American Century Cycle: 10 Plays About the Black Experience in the 20th Century

August Wilson’s American Century Cycle — ten plays for each decade of the twentieth century — chronicles the lives of the Black community in Pittsburgh. But there’s even more to know about this crowning achievement of the American Theatre. Read more to find out!
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Featured image for “Plays by Black Writers: Stories for This Moment”
June 17, 2020

Plays by Black Writers: Stories for This Moment

Concord Theatricals is proud to represent plays by Black authors that grapple with current themes and the history of the Black community. To commemorate Juneteenth, we’ve pulled a selection of titles.
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Featured image for “The Best in the West: Bringing Stories of African American Women During the Westward Expansion to the Stage”
March 3, 2020

The Best in the West: Bringing Stories of African American Women During the Westward Expansion to the Stage

Bella: An American Tall Tale began as a response to the erasure of African Americans in the history books that turned into a celebration of Black women and people of color in the American West. Read more about this joyful musical and its beginnings.
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Featured image for “Little Miss Burden: Q&A with Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini”
February 17, 2020

Little Miss Burden: Q&A with Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini

Writer Matilda Ibini chats to us about bringing her own poignant and incredibly funny story to life on stage.
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Featured image for “The Global Stage: Passport to Thailand”
October 22, 2019

The Global Stage: Passport to Thailand

The second in our Passport series, we take you to Thailand for a distinctly Harlem, New York play.
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Featured image for “Creating Community Connections”
February 28, 2019

Creating Community Connections

A discussion where you will hear from three of the many people who came together to make Pipeline by Dominique Morisseau a success:
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Featured image for “How Does Theatre Centered on the Black Experience Hold Up with Predominantly White Audiences?”
February 21, 2019

How Does Theatre Centered on the Black Experience Hold Up with Predominantly White Audiences?

“How would this play centered on the Black experience hold up with a predominantly white audience? Would the jokes land and appropriate emotions be stirred?” In this article, director Reginald Douglas discusses fostering empathy and conversation with August Wilson’s Two Trains Running at Weston Playhouse.
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Featured image for “The Value of a Human Life: A Director’s Perspective on Pass Over”
September 20, 2018

The Value of a Human Life: A Director’s Perspective on Pass Over

From the director of Pass Over, read about the thought provoking and inspiring play that represents a genuine theatre experience.
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Featured image for “Playwright Interview: Nathan Alan Davis”
July 19, 2018

Playwright Interview: Nathan Alan Davis

Nathan Alan Davis is the author of Dontrell Who Kissed the Sea, Nat Turner in Jerusalem, and many others, sat down with Samuel French Professional Licensing Representative Nikki Przasnyski to discuss his work
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Featured image for “Impacts on Racism”
June 12, 2018

Impacts on Racism

Samuel French is proud to support the August Wilson Monologue Competition, which was created by Kenny Leon and True Colors Theater Company in 2007 to carry on the legacy of August Wilson through the next generation of theatre artists. In 2017, the Dallas Competition expanded to include essays written about Mr. Wilson’s work.
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Featured image for “The Soaring Blues of Seven Guitars”
June 6, 2018

The Soaring Blues of Seven Guitars

The strength of music will not be suppressed. Read about August Wilson’s Seven Guitars here.
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Featured image for “Two Trains Running: The Realities of the Civil Rights Movement”
June 6, 2018

Two Trains Running: The Realities of the Civil Rights Movement

Samuel French is proud to support the August Wilson Monologue Competition, which was created by Kenny Leon and True Colors Theater Company in 2007 to carry on the legacy of August Wilson through the next generation of theatre artists. In 2017, the Dallas Competition expanded to include essays written about Mr. Wilson’s work.
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Featured image for “A Closer Look: Interview with Playwright Dominique Morisseau”
May 8, 2018

A Closer Look: Interview with Playwright Dominique Morisseau

Playwright Dominique Morisseau talks about her path to writing, inspirations and influences.
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Featured image for “Cardboard Piano: Park Square Theatre’s Journey to Sharing Space”
April 16, 2018

Cardboard Piano: Park Square Theatre’s Journey to Sharing Space

A play’s influence on a theater’s journey to greater inclusion.
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Featured image for “Searing the Consciousness of America: A Look Into FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS (PARTS 1, 2 & 3)”
February 1, 2018

Searing the Consciousness of America: A Look Into FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS (PARTS 1, 2 & 3)

Communications director of Intrepid Theatre Company Tiffany Tang discusses a production of FATHER COMES HOME COMES HOME FROM THE WARS (PARTS 1, 2 & 3) and how they created an environment where dialogue could be developed, encouraged, and introduced in a safe way.
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Featured image for “The Essential Truth of A Raisin in the Sun and Theatre in Our Time”
September 29, 2017

The Essential Truth of A Raisin in the Sun and Theatre in Our Time

Cynthia P. Schneider discusses the importance of art in today’s society, A Raisin in the Sun and, how this play connected people across the world.
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Featured image for “Get Smart”
August 31, 2017

Get Smart

What’s the first step to producing SMART PEOPLE by Lydia Diamond? Getting smart.
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Featured image for “An interview with Orbert Davis”
July 26, 2017

An interview with Orbert Davis

Jared Bellot spoke with renowned jazz musician Orbert Davis, who composed and recorded the original music for Paradise Blue, to discuss his 30-year career, his approach to working on the play, and the power of jazz.
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Featured image for “The Politics in Plays: August Wilson”
July 18, 2017

The Politics in Plays: August Wilson

In 2017, the August Wilson Monologue Competition expanded to included student written essays. Check out the top three here.
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Featured image for “Breaking Down Personal Fences”
July 18, 2017

Breaking Down Personal Fences

In 2017, the August Wilson Monologue Competition expanded to included student written essays. Check out the top three here.
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Featured image for “From the Past to Now: August Wilson Politics”
July 18, 2017

From the Past to Now: August Wilson Politics

In 2017, the August Wilson Monologue Competition expanded to included student written essays. Check out the top three here.
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Featured image for “Art as a Catalyst: THE ROYALE Takes Center Stage in Pittsburgh”
April 28, 2017

Art as a Catalyst: THE ROYALE Takes Center Stage in Pittsburgh

What is theatre’s role in a fractious political landscape? Pittsburgh’s City Theatre Company’s Clare Drobot explains their latest experience.
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Featured image for “The Classical Fungus of LES BLANCS: In conversation with Drew Lichtenberg, Dramaturg on National Theatre’s production of LES BLANCS”
September 9, 2016

The Classical Fungus of LES BLANCS: In conversation with Drew Lichtenberg, Dramaturg on National Theatre’s production of LES BLANCS

Lorraine Hansberry considered LES BLANCS to be her most important work; but do you know why? Learn more here.
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Featured image for “The Impossibility of Black Citizenship”
February 26, 2016

The Impossibility of Black Citizenship

Marin Theatre Company recently produced August Wilson’s GEM OF THE OCEAN, and we are proud to share their dramaturg’s pieces on the impact and influence of Wilson’s work.
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Featured image for “GEM OF THE OCEAN, Theatrical Jazz, and an Expansive Blackness”
February 24, 2016

GEM OF THE OCEAN, Theatrical Jazz, and an Expansive Blackness

Marin Theatre Company recently produced August Wilson’s GEM OF THE OCEAN, and we are proud to share their dramaturg’s pieces on the impact and influence of Wilson’s work.
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