June 13, 2024A Pan of Buttermilk Biscuits: Purlie Victorious and SustenanceHasna Muhammad, daughter of playwright/actor Ossie Davis, reflects on her father’s play Purlie Victorious and its connection to food and sustenance.Titles/Community/
August 30, 2023Is God Is: Revitalizing Australian TheatreIs 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.Productions/Titles/
February 8, 2022Black Voices in Theatre Before and After A Raisin in the SunA 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.Authors/
September 2, 2021A Joyous Shock: One Student’s Response to What to Send Up When It Goes DownThis 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.Community/Productions/
February 10, 2021August Wilson’s American Century Cycle: 10 Plays About the Black Experience in the 20th CenturyAugust 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!Authors/Titles/
June 17, 2020Plays by Black Writers: Stories for This MomentConcord 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.Community/Playwrights/Titles/
March 3, 2020The Best in the West: Bringing Stories of African American Women During the Westward Expansion to the StageBella: 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.Titles/
February 17, 2020Little Miss Burden: Q&A with Matilda Feyiṣayọ IbiniWriter Matilda Ibini chats to us about bringing her own poignant and incredibly funny story to life on stage.Playwrights/Productions/UK/
October 22, 2019The Global Stage: Passport to ThailandThe second in our Passport series, we take you to Thailand for a distinctly Harlem, New York play.Community/Productions/Titles/
February 28, 2019Creating Community ConnectionsA discussion where you will hear from three of the many people who came together to make Pipeline by Dominique Morisseau a success:Community/
February 21, 2019How 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.Productions/
September 20, 2018The Value of a Human Life: A Director’s Perspective on Pass OverFrom the director of Pass Over, read about the thought provoking and inspiring play that represents a genuine theatre experience.Productions/
July 19, 2018Playwright Interview: Nathan Alan DavisNathan 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 workUncategorized/
June 12, 2018Impacts on RacismSamuel 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.Community/
June 6, 2018The Soaring Blues of Seven GuitarsThe strength of music will not be suppressed. Read about August Wilson’s Seven Guitars here.Community/
June 6, 2018Two Trains Running: The Realities of the Civil Rights MovementSamuel 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.Community/
May 8, 2018A Closer Look: Interview with Playwright Dominique MorisseauPlaywright Dominique Morisseau talks about her path to writing, inspirations and influences.Authors/
April 16, 2018Cardboard Piano: Park Square Theatre’s Journey to Sharing SpaceA play’s influence on a theater’s journey to greater inclusion.Titles/
February 1, 2018Searing 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.Productions/
September 29, 2017The Essential Truth of A Raisin in the Sun and Theatre in Our TimeCynthia 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.Community/
August 31, 2017Get SmartWhat’s the first step to producing SMART PEOPLE by Lydia Diamond? Getting smart.Productions/
July 26, 2017An interview with Orbert DavisJared 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.Community/
July 18, 2017The Politics in Plays: August WilsonIn 2017, the August Wilson Monologue Competition expanded to included student written essays. Check out the top three here.Community/
July 18, 2017Breaking Down Personal FencesIn 2017, the August Wilson Monologue Competition expanded to included student written essays. Check out the top three here.Community/
July 18, 2017From the Past to Now: August Wilson PoliticsIn 2017, the August Wilson Monologue Competition expanded to included student written essays. Check out the top three here.Community/
April 28, 2017Art as a Catalyst: THE ROYALE Takes Center Stage in PittsburghWhat is theatre’s role in a fractious political landscape? Pittsburgh’s City Theatre Company’s Clare Drobot explains their latest experience.Productions/
September 9, 2016The Classical Fungus of LES BLANCS: In conversation with Drew Lichtenberg, Dramaturg on National Theatre’s production of LES BLANCSLorraine Hansberry considered LES BLANCS to be her most important work; but do you know why? Learn more here.Productions/
February 26, 2016The Impossibility of Black CitizenshipMarin 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.Productions/
February 24, 2016GEM OF THE OCEAN, Theatrical Jazz, and an Expansive BlacknessMarin 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.Productions/