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Blacks Are Working Off Broadway in 2020!

By Linda Armstrong

Harlem Community Newspapers | February 6. 2020 O ff-Broadway is a very viable venue for African American actors. There are numerous productions that are utilizing the talents of Black performers. Some shows have opened already and many are coming in 2020. Off-Broadway is putting Blacks to work in a wonderful way through plays from Black writers like Katori Hall, Lynn Nottage, Donald E. Lacy, Jr., C.A. Johnson, Pearl Cleage, Jillian Walker and through the work of other writers as well. Productions are happening throughout Manhattan as well as, in Brooklyn.

Looking at the shows alphabetically I’d like to share the productions and the Black actors who are on stage to perform or will be coming in future months. Let me just say that the shows included here are productions that have cast their actors and had headshots available, which allowed them to be included in this piece.

“a photograph: lovers in motion” by Nzotake Shange, a Negro Ensemble Company production, adapted and directed by Ifa

Bayeza will play at Theater 80 at St. Marks. Set in San Francisco during the waning years of the Black Arts Movement, the play explores the world of creative artists as they fought to communicate, create their own image, life and love. Cast members feature Nya Bowman as Nevada: Imana Breaux as Michael; Marc Deliz as Earl; Mystie Galloway as Claire and Adrain Washington as Sean David. The production will run Feb. 2-29.

“All The Natalie Portmans” by Black playwright C.A. Johnson, directed by Kate Whoriskey, will play at the Susan & Ronald Frankel Theater at the Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space at 511 W 52nd St. It is a coming of age comedy. Keyonna and her brother Samuel are on the brink of eviction and dream of a better life. Keyonna escapes to the world of her book muse Natalie Portman and learns a valuable lesson about life. The production will feature Joshua Boone as Samuel; Montego Glover as Ovetta; Renika Williams as Chantel and Kara Young as Keyonna. The show will run through March 15.

“Between The Lines” will play at the Tony Kiser

Theater at Second Stage, located at 305 W 43 St. A musical based on a book by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer has a book by Timothy Allen McDonald, music and lyrics by Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson, with direction by Jeff Calhoun. Presented by Daryl Roth, it tells the story of a girl in a new town and school who finds comfort in the pages of her favorite book. She wonders if she can rewrite her own story. The musical will have Jerusha Cavazos as Janice/Marina and Morgan Siobhan Green as Jules/Ondine. The musical will begin performances on April 21 with an official opening on May 7. “Blue” by Charles Randolph-Wright with music by Nona Hendryx and lyrics by Charles Randolph-Wright and Nona Hendryx and direction by Phylicia Rashad will play at the Apollo Theatre at 253 W 125th St. The production celebrates the love and spirit of a family coming to terms with itself. Here the family is the Clarks, a socially prominent family dealing with legacy and pitfalls. It will feature legendary actress in the lead roles—Leslie Uggams as Tillie Clark and Lynn

Whitfield as Peggy Clark. The production is currently casting the other roles. The show will begin performances on April 27 and run through Aug. 16, with an official opening on May 10. “Blues for an Alabama Sky” by Pearl Cleage and directed by L.A. Williams, tells the story of four friends in Harlem and a newcomer from Alabama who collide in 1930 during the Harlem Renaissance. It will feature Alfie Fuller as Angel; John-Andrew Morrison as Guy; Khiry Walker as Leland; and Sheldon Woodley as Doc. The production will play at Theater

Row, located at 410 W 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues. The play will run through March 14, opening on Feb. 18.

“Chicken and Biscuits” written by Douglas Lyons, will play at the Queens Theatre at 14 United Nations Avenue South, Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Directed by Zhailon Levingston, it tells the story of Baneatta and Beverly, sister who attempt to put their differences aside to bury their father. At the funeral however they find out a secret that puts everyone in an uproar. This new comedy has heart, soul and a little shade. The cast members feature Alana Raquel Bowers as Simone; Jennifer Fouche as Baneatta; Ashanti J’Aria as Brianna; Ebony Marshall-Oliver as Beverly; Robert G. McKay as Reginald; Aigner Mizzelle as La’Trice; and Josh Adams Ramos as Kenny. The show will play Feb. 28 to Mar. 22. “Coal Country,” written by Jessica Blank and Eric Jensen with original music by Steve Earle and direction by Jessica Blank, tells the story of the 2010 Upper Big Branch mine explosion based on survivors’ accounts and family members. The play will be performed at Anspacher Theater at the Public Theater at 425 Lafayette Street. It will feature Ezra Knight as Roosevelt. The play will run Feb. 18-Mar. 29, officially opening Mar. 3.

“Colorstruck,” written by Donald E. Lacy, Jr. will play at Theater for the New City at 155 First Avenue. It is a comedic autobiography on an outsider: a sensitive, light-skinned Black man in Oakland during the height of the Black Power Movement. It is a one-man show featuring Donald E. Lacy, Jr. The production will play Feb. 27 to Mar.15.

“Dracula” with a new adaptation by Kate Hamill and direction by Sarna Lapine will be presented by the Classic Stage Company at Lynn F. Angelson Theater at Classic Stage Company, located at 136 E 13th St. It will feature Jessica Frances Dukes as Doctor Van Helsing. It will play Feb. 17 to Mar. 8.