Theater News

Elizabeth Van Dyke, Lawrence Holder, Vanessa Rubin et al. Set for Black History Month Play Festival

Vanessa Rubin
Vanessa Rubin

The National Black Touring Circuit has announced their Black History Month Play Festival, February 5-28, which will celebrate four significant Black women: Lorraine Hansberry, Josephine Baker, Billie Holiday, and Dr. May Edward Chinn.

At the Dwyer Cultural Center, Elizabeth Van Dyke will star in Love To All Lorraine, a one-woman play based on the life of the late playwright Lorraine Hansberry. Directed by Woodie King Jr., the show will play February 5-6 and is hosted by film, TV and Stage star Ruby Dee and theater legend Douglas Turner Ward. Sloan Robinson’s cabaret, BANANAS: The Josephine Baker Story (February 12-14) will play at the Schomberg Center for Black Culture with direction by Joyce Maddox.

The National Black Theatre will present Yesterdays, An Evening With Billie Holiday, February 19-21, Reenie Upchurch’s celebration of the singer, starring Vanessa Rubin with King at the helm. The Festival will close with Lawrence Holder’s play Dr. May Edward Chinn, February 26-28, which will play at the Castillo Theatre, and is about the first Black woman doctor at Harlem Hospital. It will star Kim Yancey, with Imani directing.