The Billie Holiday Theatre is launching the Black Narrative theater series, which will spotlight the power of Black storytelling. The biennial event will feature three days of performances, readings and discussions that give voice to the African American experience.
The series, which runs from Friday, Nov. 15 to Sunday, Nov. 17, will be held on the iconic Billie Holiday Theatre stage in Bedford Stuyvesant, according to a press release.
The Black Narrative series aims to advance the theater’s mission of centering the exploration of Black theater and culture through performances and partnerships with leading Black theater organizations and collectives.
The series kicks off on Friday, Nov. 15, with a performance of Love Warrior, a critically acclaimed one-person show by award-winning actor, singer, and writer Daniel Koa Beaty. Produced by the New Heritage Theatre Group, New York State’s oldest Black non-profit theater company, Love Warrior weaves together intimate stories, poetry, song and dance, as Beaty explores themes of trauma and healing, drawing from his personal journey, including a visit to the plantation where his great-great-grandmother was enslaved and his enstooling as a King in Ghana.
On Saturday, The Billie will feature readings of six thought-provoking plays addressing critical social and political issues such as gentrification, Black Lives Matter, policing and Black joy. The plays, directed by TFTT Artistic Director Cezar Williams, include works by playwrights such as Angelica Cheri, Goldie E. Patrick and Marcus Gardley.
The Black Narrative series will culminate on Sunday with a staged reading of works by Amiri Baraka and Aishah Rahman. Both plays confront the scourge of violence in Black American life, followed by a panel discussion on the significance of these artistic works.
“Collaboration was key in building the foundation of this series,” said Shadawn Smith, executive director of the theater. “We wanted to create a substantive theater experience that celebrates and explores the breadth and excellence of the Black theater canon. Our hope is that Black Narrative becomes a staple in theater for audiences, reinforcing The Billie’s role as a home for Black theater.”
For more information on the series and ticket information, click here.
