

July 25 - 27 • 2025

STAY IN THE LOOP
Hattiloo Theatre always has something going on, both on stage and off. Sign up today using this button and be among the first to know what’s happening at Hattiloo. CLICK HERE
July 25 - 27 • 2025
Hattiloo Theatre always has something going on, both on stage and off. Sign up today using this button and be among the first to know what’s happening at Hattiloo. CLICK HERE
BOARD
Faith Morris, CEO, cultureLift Inc. Freedom Award Managing Director/Producer; Hattiloo Chair
Cynthia Collins, Managing Director of Litigation, FedEx; Hattiloo Secretary
Vernon Stafford, Senior Executive Vice President, & Chief Audit Executive, First Horizons; Hattiloo Treasurer
Ekundayo Bandele, Founder & CEO
Patricia Smith, Production Manager
Jarrod Walker, Theatre Manager
Rosanna Smith, Office Manager
Najwa Watson, Engagement Coordinator
Hatshepsut Bandele, Customer Service Coordinator
P.A. Bomani, House Manager
Zaria Crawford, Customer Service Representative
Felicia Wheeler, Patron Engagement
MEMBERS
CarolynBishop,Director,On-Campus Living,LeMoyne-OwenCollege
MichaelCampanaro,VicePresident, InformationTechnology,AutoZone
TabrinaDavis,VicePresident-Marketing, CommunicationsandWebStrategy, MethodistLeBonheur
JocelynHenderson,AnAttorney CardellOrrin,ExecutiveDirector, StandforChildren
AmySimpson,ChiefCommunications Leader,InternationalPaper
LindaSmith,CommunityVolunteer
Hattiloo is a 501(c)3 mission non-profit organization. Its mission is "to develop a Black theatre that is accessible to, relevant to, and reflective of a multicultural community." It produces shows that depict Black life and that transcend their entertainment value by giving audiences an authentic, cultural experience. Its program The Self-Identity Theatre Camp helps Black youth acquire tools to care for their emotional selves in inequitable and discriminatorysituations
As the largest Black theatre in the Mid-South andoneofafewfree-standingBlacktheatresin the country, Hattiloo is a hub for national Black theatre training and convening, and our youth programssharethisfocus.
DEJA PATTON Production Assistant
Ifyouexitthetheatreduringtheshow,youmaynotbeabletoreturntoyourseat.
Camerasandrecordingequipmentarestrictlyforbiddeninthetheatre.Patrons withcellphonesoranyelectronicdevicethatmakesnoisearerequestedtoeither turnoffthedeviceorcheckitwiththehousemanagerbeforethecurtain.
Thisisworkindevelopment,sotherewillbeatalkbackfollowingevery performance.
THE GENIUS OF BEING STUPID is a new play in development. This fully staged workshop—complete with lights, set, and costumes— allows the creative team to explore and refine the work with a live audience. Your experience tonight is part of the play’s evolution.
From the mind of acclaimed Broadway playwright Keenan Scott II comes an unflinching, deeply personal solo show that challenges perceptions and celebrates resilience. In THE GENIUS OF BEING STUPID, Scott navigates the streets of Queens, New York, and the suburban neighborhoods of Waldorf, Maryland, weaving together the humor, heartbreak, and triumph of his youth as a special education student. This autobiographical journey is a story of identity as he reflects on society’s narrow definitions of intelligence. Raw, insightful, and full of soul, Scott unearths the brilliance hidden within perceived flaws, offering audiences a powerful reminder of the genius that lies in every misstep.
Keenan Scott II Keenan Scott II, a playwright, poet, actor, director, and producer from Queens, NY, has had his work developed at theaters like National Black Theater, NYTW, Arena Stage, and Woolly Mammoth. His play Thoughts of a Colored Man premiered at Syracuse Stage (2019-20) before its Broadway debut (2021-22), where Scott also made his acting debut. A 2021 TED Fellow, Scott's new musical, The Return of Young Boy, is slated for a regional premiere in the 2025-26 season. He also has numerous film and television projects in development. In 2020, Scott founded Project Toys Entertainment, a creative studio spanning theatre, TV, film, and visual art, dedicated to bringing joyful and thoughtprovoking content to audiences of all ages.
July 25 - August 24, 2025