7 minute read
Black History
“Esai’s Table” written by Nathan Yungerberg with direction by Stevie Walker-Webb, will play at the Cherry Lane Theatre located at 38 Commerce Street. The play is a mythical tale about a magical table, three young Black men, friendship, family, love and being human. The cast consists of Dimitri Carter as Adam Iverson; Curtiss Cook Jr. as Michael Ferguson; Marcus Gladney Jr. as David Tyler Jones and Benton Greene as Esai Wallace. The show will play Mar. 19 to Apr. 25. “First By Faith: The Life of Mary McLeod Bethune, written and performed by Richarda Abrams, this one-woman show will play as part of the Women’s History Solo Show Series at the 14th Street Y, located at 344 E 14th St. The play, directed by Dina Vovsi, will focus on Mary McLeod Bethune and Abrams wholeheartedly sharing this great lady’s life story and legacy.
“Frankenstein” adapted by Tristan Bernay and directed by John Douglas will play at the Lynn A. Angelson Theater at Classic Stage Company, at 136 E 13th St. It will feature Stephanie Berry as Frankenstein/The Creature. It will run Feb. 25 to Mar. 15.
Advertisement
“Intimate Apparel”, a world premiere opera with a libretto by Black playwright Lynn Nottage, music by Ricky Ian Gordon and direction by Bartlett Sher, will play at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center, located at 150 W 65th St. It is a co-venture between the Met/LCT New Works Program. It tells the story of Esther, a lonely, single Black woman who makes her living sewing corsets and ladies’ undergarments. Looking for love, she writes letter to a man laboring on the Panama Canal. She comes to realize she only has herself to rely on in life. The play features Justin Austin as George Armstrong; Errin Duane Brooks--ensemble, Helena Brown--ensemble; Chanae Curtis--ensemble; Adrienne Danrich as Mrs. Dickson; Leroy Davis--ensemble, Matthew Gamble--ensemble; Christian Mark Gibbs--ensemble; Tesia Kwarteng--ensemble; Justin Lee Miller--ensemble; Jasmine Muhammad--ensemble; Kearstin Piper Brown—Esther alternate days; Kimberli Render--ensemble; Krysty Swann as Mayme and Chabrelle Williams—Esther alternate days. The play will begin performances Feb. 27.
“Mirrors” written by Azure D. Osbourne-Lee will play at Next Door at New York Theatre Workshop, located at 79 E 4th St. It is set in Mississippi in 1960 and depicts the lives of three Black women bound by love and loss and family and the secrets of their shared past. It is a depiction of Black queer women in the South. The play features Joyia Bradley as Louise Sterling; Suzanne Darrell as Bird Wilson; Anthony Goss as Ray Johnson; AnJu Hyppolite as Mabel Mosley; Natalie Jacobs as Constance Jenkins; Ashley Noel Jones as Alma Jean Pierson; and Kayland Jordan as Annabelle “Belle” Pierson.
“Sistas: The Musical” written by Dorothy Marcic, with direction by Kenneth Ferrone, is playing at St. Lukes Theatre at 308 W 46th St. It has been playing there for many years and is the story of African-American women told through top-40 music from Bessie Smith to Beyonce. The musical has choreography by Lauren Lim-Jackson and it is simply a great, fun time. It features Allyson Kaye Daniel as Roberta/Dance Captain; Kenya Hamilton as Swing; Kendra Lynn Lucas as Simone, Rachel Sarah Mount as Tamika and Marlaina Powell as Gloria. This show is playing an open-ended run.
“SKinFoLK: An American Show,” by Jillian Walker, directed by Mei Ann Teo will play at the Bushwich Starr Theater at 207 Starr Street in Brooklyn. It is produced in association with the National Black Theater and the Bushwich Starr and presented in association with Musical Theatre Factory. It will be a concert/ play that explores the question and limits of Blackness, performance and country. The production will feature Tsebiyah Mishael Derry as Avery NoLastName; Lori Sinclair Minor as Smiling Tuxedoed Man/Nixon and Jillian Walker as Me. The production will play Feb. 29 to Mar. 22.
“STEW” by Zora Howard, directed by Collette Robert, will be presented by Page 73 Productions at Walkerspace Theatre at 46 Walker Street. It will deal with family issues coming to a boil hen three generations are in Mama’s kitchen. The play feature Kristin Dodson as Lil’ Mama; Toni Lachelle Pollitt as Nelly; Portia as Mama; and Nikkole Salter as Lillian.
“The Hot Wing King” by Katori Hall, with direction by Steve H. Broadnax III will be performed in The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at the Pershing Square Center at 480 W 42nd St, between 9th and 10th Avenues. It tells the story of Cordell Crutchfield who lives in Memphis, Tennessee, and is competing in the annual ‘Hot Wang Festival.’ This production is a comedy that deals with competition, relationships, and family dynamics. Especially when Cordell’s troubled nephew comes to stay. The production will feature Nicco Annan as Big Charles; Sheldon Best as Isom; Cecil Blutcher as EJ; Korey Jackson as Dwayne; Toussaint Jeanlouis as Cordell and Eric Robinson Jr. as TJ. The production will run Feb. 11 to Mar. 22, with an official opening on Mar. 1. “The Play That Goes Wrong” written by Henry Lewis, Henry Shields and Jonathan Sayer, has direction by Mark Bell. It is play at New World Stages at 340 W 50th St. Presented by Mischief Theatre Company, it is one of the funniest shows you will see about what mishaps can happen while performing a whodunit. It features Jason Bowen as Trevor and Bianca Horn as Annie. The show has an open-ended run.
“The Unsinkable Molly Brown” has music and lyrics by Meredith Willson and a new book based on the original book by Richard Morris and new lyrics by Dick Scanlan. The production is directed and
choreographed by Kathleen Marshall. The musical comedy is about Molly Brown, an underdog turned champion of women’s rights. This Transport Group production will play at the Abrams Arts Center located at 466 Grand St. It will star David Aron Damane as JJ and have Tyrone Davis Jr. and CoCo Smith as ensemble members. The musical will run Feb. 8 to Mar. 22, official opening on Feb. 26. “Two Can Play” by Trevor Rhone, directed by Clinton Turner Davis will play at the Castillo Theatre at 543 W 42 nd Street. It will be presented by New Federal Theatre in association with Castillo Theatre and will tell the story of a marriage tested as a Jamaican couple risk everything to emigrate to the U.S. The two person play will star Michael Rogers as Jim and Joyce Sylvester as Gloria. The play will run Feb. 27 to Mar. 29.
“We’re Gonna Die” by Young Jean Lee, directed and choreographed by Raja Feather Kelly will play at Second Stage’s Tony Kiser Theater at 305 W 43rd St. It’s a play that celebrates what we do in life to get through the hurdles using a series of stories and songs. This one-woman show stars Janelle McDermoth. The play will run Feb. 4 to Mar. 22, with an official opening on Feb. 25.
“Where We Stand” by Donnetta Lavinia Grays is a one-person show that she also performs, alternating with David Ryan Smith. Having its world premiere at the WP Theater and being presented by the WP Theater and Baltimore Center Stage, the play tells an interesting story. In a town running low on compassion, an exile seeks forgiveness, forcing the community to decide between mercy or justice. This epic fable of penance is filled with humor, heart and music. It is directed by Tamilia Woodard and playing at WP Theatre at 2162 Broadway and 76 th Street. It will play through March 1.
The Off-Broadway season for 2020 will be very exciting. There are so many productions that offer all types of storylines for one to enjoy. There are musicals, dramatic plays, comedic plays, one-woman shows, one-man shows, there is a variety for many theatrical appetites. Go out and support our Black artists on those stages.
Nya Bowman
Imana Breaux
“Between The Lines” Kara Young Jerusha Cavazos
Blacks Off Broadway 2020
Marc Deliz
Mystie Galloway
Adrain Washington
Joshua Boone Renika WilliamsMontego Glover
Morgan Siohbhan Green
“Blue” “Blues for an Alabama Sky” Leslie Uggams Lynn Whitfield Alfie Fuller John Andrew Morrison
Khiry Walker
Harlem Community Newspapers | February 6. 2020 “Chicken and Biscuits” Jose Adam RamosAigner MizzelleRobert G. McKayEbony Marshall-OliverAshanti J'AriaJennifer FoucheAlana Raquel BowersSheldon Woodley “Coal Country,” “Colorstruck” “Frankenstein” “Intimate Apparel” “Dracula” “Esai’s Table” “First By Faith: The Life of Mary McLeod Bethune” Richarda AbramsBenton GreeneMarcus GladneyCurtis Cook Jr.Dimitri CarterJessica Frances DukesDonald E. LacyEzra Knight Stephanie Berry Justin Austin Errin Duane Brooks Helena Brown Chanae Curtis Adrienne Danrich Leroy Davis Matthew Gamble Christian Mark Gibbs “Mirrors”
