TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2012
The Columbia Chronicle
Black theater inspires change by Emily Ornberg
Sweet
Proposition Dating sites offer “sugary” solution to the finer things in life
See PG. 24
Assistant Arts & Culture Editor A GUNSHOT HIT Sgt. Vernon Waters of the South’s segregated black military, and he enigmatically cried his last words, “They still hate you!” as he fell to his death. When the lights dimmed and the curtains came down, the cast rejoiced backstage after another performance of “A Soldier’s Play” at Hidden Stages Theater Company. The year was 1994. Afterward, stage manager Vincent Williams sat distraught in his apartment. He was sure the play would receive a Jeff Award for excellence in professional Chicago theater. But, according to Williams at the time, work of most other African-American productions was generally swept under the rug, according to Williams. “I felt that we weren’t being recognized,” he said. “We were kind of being overlooked as far as giving accolades for our artistic work. So I said, ‘Well this talent has to be recognized. Let me create something to honor AfricanAmericans in theater.’” The following year, Williams organized the first Black Theater Alliance Awards as a nonprofit organization to support and recognize local AfricanAmericans in the performing arts. Eighteen years later, the annual ceremony continues its mission of putting the spotlight on Chicago talent. Columbia sophomore theater major David Davis said he never thought he would receive such an award. To his surprise, in August he was nominated for the BTAA Denzel Washington Award for Most Promising Actor for his performance as Isaac in the Open Door Repertory Company’s production of “Train is Comin’,” the story of nine freed slaves who in 1870 set out to raise money for the first AfricanAmerican college. “I heard about the BTAA, and I just always thought of that being something way above me,” Davis said of the honor. “I figured I have years to go before being nominated for something.” While his nomination might have been unexpected, Davis has already notched several accomplishments. At 18, he was selected to receive a scholarship based on his involvement with school organizations and his high grades. Davis was the first AfricanAmerican male to get into his high school’s dance organization, Cass Tech Dance Workshop. And though he was homeless, he graduated high school with a 3.9 GPA. Davis broke another barrier last
xx SEE THEATER, PG. 22 THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE 21