Amplifying Black Voices Onstage and Off

TheaterMania stands in solidarity with our friends, colleagues, artists, teachers, and beyond who are fighting for the justice and equality. We are proud to amplify the voices of Black artists in New York City and beyond.

Activism

Norm Lewis, Vanessa Williams, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Audra McDonald, LaChanze, and Darius de Haas
Theater News
Editor's Pick
Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Vanessa Williams, and More Form Black Theatre United
The coalition will combat racism in the theater industry.
Douglas Lyons
Theater News
Editor's Pick
Broadway Vet Douglas Lyons to Help Fund Scholarships for Black Theater Artists
Lyons created the initiative with the Directors Company.
André De Shields in Classical Theatre of Harlem's 2007 production of <em>Black Nativity</em>.
Theater News
Editor's Pick
Black Theater Companies That Could Use Your Donations
Here are ways for you to help.
A scene from <em>A Soldier's Play</em> on Broadway
Theater News
Editor's Pick
2019-20 Season: Broadway Was Woefully Behind When It Came to Diversity on Creative Teams
Look at some statistics from the season that got shut down.
A scene from <em>Ear for Eye</em>
Theater News
Editor's Pick
London's Royal Court Makes Debbie Tucker Green Play Ear for Eye Available to Read for Free
The play examines the struggle for change in the Black British and African-American communities.
Adrienne Warren in <em>Tina: The Tina Turner Musical</em>
Theater News
Editor's Pick
New Antonyo Awards, Celebrating Best of Black Theater, Announces Nominees
Winners will be revealed on June 19.
Handout artwork for the Antonyo Awards
Theater News
Editor's Pick
Inaugural Antonyo Awards to Celebrate Best of Black Broadway and Off-Broadway Season
The event will be presented on Juneteenth.
(image via www.nationalblacktheatre.org)
Theater News
Editor's Pick
National Black Theater Accepting Applications for 2020-21 Soul Producing Residency
The program helps develop the careers of Black theater producers.
The <em>We See You, White American Theater</em> Logo
Theater News
Editor's Pick
Hundreds of BIPOC Theater Artists Call Out Industry Racism in Petition and Statement
Signatories include Lynn Nottage, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and many more luminaries of the theater.
Adrienne Warren
Theater News
Editor's Pick
Broadway Cares Offers $125,000 in Grants to Broadway Advocacy Coalition and More
The BAC grant will support the coalition's ongoing efforts to help Broadway become an anti-racist and equitable community.
Griffin Matthews in his musical <em>Invisible Thread</em> at Second Stage Theatre.
Theater News
Editor's Pick
Broadway Stars and More Call Out Racism in Theater Industry and Offer Suggestions for Change
Cody Renard Richard, Griffin Matthews, and many others are speaking out.
Jeremy O. Harris
Theater News
Editor's Pick
Jeremy O. Harris and Bushwick Starr Announce Coronavirus Relief Fund for Playwrights
If you identify as a playwright, you can apply for a $500 grant that comes without restriction.

News

Deon'te Goodman and Jennifer Leigh Warren
Theater News
Editor's Pick
Deon'te Goodman and Jennifer Leigh Warren to Star in Reading of New Bio-Musical
Bayard will be presented online on July 8.
Brynn Williams and Anthony Chatmon II
Theater News
Editor's Pick
Brynn Williams and Anthony Chatmon II to Star in Reading of Freedom Riders
The award-winning civil rights musical is written by Richard Allen and Taran Gray.
Sheila Atim in Lorraine Hansberry's <em>Les Blancs</em> at the National Theatre.
Theater News
Editor's Pick
Lorraine Hansberry's Les Blancs, Peter Shaffer's Amadeus Set for Home Streaming
The final five titles of the National Theater at Home series have been announced.
Patrina Murray, Crystal Lucas-Perry, and Kerry O'Malley
Theater News
Editor's Pick
Upcoming 1776 Revival to Feature Entirely Female, Nonbinary, Trans, Genderqueer Company
Diane Paulus will direct the classic musical on Broadway.
Tarik Trotter is the author of <em>Black No More</em>.
Theater News
Editor's Pick
The Roots' Tarik Trotter to Premiere New Musical Black No More
Jennifer Damiano, Brandon Victor Dixon, and more will star in the off-Broadway musical, presented by the New Group.
Audra McDonald, Bobby Cannavale, and Carla Gugino will star in <em>A Streetcar Named Desire</em>.
Theater News
Editor's Pick
Williamstown to Present Season as Audible Releases, Including Streetcar With Audra McDonald
The audio plays will be released later this year.
Sheldon Best, Tiffany Rachelle Stewart, Stephanie Berry, and Chinaza Uche in Donja R. Love's <em>Sugar In Our Wounds</em> at Manhattan Theatre Club's New York City Center — Stage II in 2018.
Special Reports
Editor's Pick
Op-Ed: The Nonprofit Theater Industry Can't Just Do the Bare Minimum Anymore
One play by a BIPOC writer per season does not make diversity.
Katori Hall and Martyna Majok
TV News
Editor's Pick
Katori Hall, Martyna Majok Creating TV Shows Based on Plays P*ssy Valley and Queens
The shows will air on Starz and HBO, respectively.

Interviews and Essays

Sheldon Best, Tiffany Rachelle Stewart, Stephanie Berry, and Chinaza Uche in Donja R. Love's <em>Sugar In Our Wounds</em> at Manhattan Theatre Club's New York City Center — Stage II in 2018.
Special Reports
Editor's Pick
Op-Ed: The Nonprofit Theater Industry Can't Just Do the Bare Minimum Anymore
One play by a BIPOC writer per season does not make diversity.
Adrienne Warren and Daniel J. Watts in <em>Tina: The Tina Turner Musical</em> on Broadway.
Interviews
Editor's Pick
Adrienne Warren Tells Us What It Takes to Play Tina Turner on Broadway
This Tony nominee is no longer afraid of fear, and here's why.
Jocelyn Bioh
Special Reports
Editor's Pick
Jocelyn Bioh: A Girl Can Stream...
The dramatist reflects on seeing her play School Girls onscreen rather than onstage.
Colman Domingo on How Theaters Can Live Up to Their Black Lives Matter Statements
Theater News
Editor's Pick
Colman Domingo on How Theaters Can Live Up to Their Black Lives Matter Statements
The Tony nominee also announces the creation of the Vineyard Theatre's Colman Domingo Award.
Solea Pfeiffer in <em>Almost Famous</em>, <em>Evita</em>, <em>The Light in the Piazza</em>, and in rehearsal for <em>Gun & Powder</em>.
Interviews
Editor's Pick
Rising Star Solea Pfeiffer Tells Us What She's Learned in 7 Months of Nonstop Musicals
Pfeiffer went from starring in Almost Famous to Evita to The Light in the Piazza to Gun & Powder. And she loves it all.
Jane Levy and Alex Newell in NBC's <em>Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist</em>.
Interviews
Editor's Pick
Alex Newell Lives His Truth in NBC's Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist
Newell tells TheaterMania about how his life influenced the story arc for his latest role.
Joaquina Kalukango and Paul Alexander Nolan in <em>Slave Play</em> on Broadway.
Final Bow
Editor's Pick
Final Bow: How Slave Play Taught Joaquina Kalukango to Get Out of Her Own Head
The star of Jeremy O. Harris's Broadway drama learns how to not let people's responses get in the way of storytelling.
Jordan Fisher as Evan in a promotional image for <em>Dear Evan Hansen</em>.
Interviews
Editor's Pick
Evan Hansen Is the Hardest Role Jordan Fisher Has Ever Played
Fisher takes us behind the scenes of his Broadway return in the Tony-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen.
Jessica Frances Dukes and Jason Bateman in Netflix's <em>Ozark</em>.
Interviews
Editor's Pick
After Vera Stark and Dracula, Jessica Frances Dukes Heads to Ozark
Dukes stars in the third season of the Netflix drama, alongside Jason Bateman and Laura Linney.
Anna Deavere Smith and Michael Benjamin Washington, collaborators on <em>Fires in the Mirror</em>.
Interviews
Editor's Pick
Anna Deavere Smith Reignites Her Fires in the Mirror With Michael Benjamin Washington
Washington picks up the flame of this landmark solo play to kick off Smith's Signature Theatre residency.
Timothy Douglas is the director of <em>Spunk</em> at Signature Theatre.
Interviews
Editor's Pick
Timothy Douglas Talks Zora Neale Hurston, Harlem Slang, and the Blues in Spunk
Douglas and a top-notch cast bring George C. Wolfe's adaptation of three Hurston stories to Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia.
Tarell Alvin McCraney, author of <em>Choir Boy</em>.
Interviews
Editor's Pick
Moonlight Writer Tarell Alvin McCraney on the Living Nature of Plays and Identity in Choir Boy
McCraney's work shows how racism, homophobia, and other blinkered world views stop people from being people.
Lynn Nottage is the author of <em>Fabulation, or The Re-Education of Undine</em>.
Interviews
Editor's Pick
Lynn Nottage's Busy Winter: Fabulation, Sweat, and The Secret Life of Bees
The two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright looks ahead to her first major New York revivals and her musical debut.
William Jackson Harper, star of <em>The Good Place</em> and writer of <em>Travisville</em>.
Interviews
Editor's Pick
William Jackson Harper on Taking the Sepia Tones out of Civil Rights in Travisville
The star of NBC's The Good Place makes his playwriting debut at Ensemble Studio Theatre.
Saheem Ali and Donja R. Love collaborate on <em>Sugar in Our Wounds</em> and <em>Fireflies</em>.
Interviews
Editor's Pick
Playwright Donja R. Love and Director Saheem Ali Explore the Black, Queer Experience
Love debuts two plays from his new trilogy this season, with the first, Sugar in Our Wounds, currently running at Manhattan Theatre Club.
Phylica Rashad and Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Interviews
Editor's Pick
When Actors Take the Helm: Phylicia Rashad and Ruben Santiago-Hudson on Making the Leap to Directing
Rashad is calling the shots for Our Lady of 121st Street, while Santiago-Hudson is staging Paradise Blue.
Chukwudi Iwuji stars at in <em>Othello</em> at the Delacorte Theater.
Interviews
Editor's Pick
A Second Shot at Othello for Actor Chukwudi Iwuji
Iwuji stars in Ruben Santiago-Hudson's free Shakespeare in the Park production at the Delacorte Theater.
Antoinette Nwandu is the writer of <em>Pass Over</em>.
Interviews
Editor's Pick
Pass Over Goes From the Steppenwolf Stage to the Silver Screen
Antoinette Nwandu's play sparked a national conversation upon its premiere. Now, before its New York debut, Spike Lee has created a film version.
Lebo M with <em>The Lion King</em> director Julie Taymor in advance of the musical's 20th Broadway anniversary.
Interviews
Catching Up With The Lion King's Lebo M. and His Iconic Voice as the Show Turns 20
Lebo M. opened The Lion King 20 years ago, but he's never left it behind.
Brandon J. Dirden and Willie Dirden star in <em>A Raisin in the Sun</em> at Two River Theater.
Interviews
Father and Son Actors Willie and Brandon J. Dirden Share the Stage in Raisin in the Sun
Two River Theater presents Lorraine Hansberry's seminal drama.

Videos

<em>Ain't Too Proud</em> Stars and Band Re-create "The Way You Do the Things You Do" at Home
Video Flash
Editor's Pick
Ain't Too Proud Stars and Band Re-create "The Way You Do the Things You Do" at Home
Watch the show's opening number, performed via social distancing.
Flashback Friday: Cynthia Erivo Sings "I'm Here" From <em>The Color Purple</em> at the Tonys
Video Flash
Editor's Pick
Flashback Friday: Cynthia Erivo Sings "I'm Here" From The Color Purple at the Tonys
The Tony, Emmy, and Grammy winner is nominated for an Oscar for her performance as Harriet Tubman in the biopic Harriet.
Flashback Friday: Rebecca Naomi Jones and Daniel Breaker in Broadway's <em>Passing Strange</em>
Video Flash
Editor's Pick
Flashback Friday: Rebecca Naomi Jones and Daniel Breaker in Broadway's Passing Strange
Watch a scene from Spike Lee's film of the Tony-winning musical.
Kimber Elayne Sprawl Sings Bob Dylan's "Tight Connection to My Heart"
Video Flash
Editor's Pick
Kimber Elayne Sprawl Sings Bob Dylan's "Tight Connection to My Heart"
Sprawl stars in Girl From the North Country on Broadway.
Flashback Friday: <em>Lion King</em> Cast Performs Black Lives Matter Tribute "Is the Writing on the Wall?"
Video Flash
Editor's Pick
Flashback Friday: Lion King Cast Performs Black Lives Matter Tribute "Is the Writing on the Wall?"
The dance piece was presented in 2014.
Flashback Friday: Remember Terrence McNally With "Make Them Hear You" From <em>Ragtime</em>
Video Flash
Editor's Pick
Flashback Friday: Remember Terrence McNally With "Make Them Hear You" From Ragtime
Original leading man Brian Stokes Mitchell sings the Ahrens and Flaherty anthem.
Alex Newell
Video Flash
Editor's Pick
Alex Newell and the Sounds of Zamar Come Together for "I Know Where I've Been"
Song co-writer Marc Shaiman lent his keyboard to the video, performed as a tribute to George Floyd and as a rallying cry to defeat racism and police violence.
Flashback Friday: Daveed Diggs Raps About the Importance of Voting
Video Flash
Editor's Pick
Flashback Friday: Daveed Diggs Raps About the Importance of Voting
Celebrate Diggs's birthday with this great video.
Watch Clips of David Alan Grier and Blair Underwood in <em>A Soldier's Play</em>
Video Flash
Editor's Pick
Watch Clips of David Alan Grier and Blair Underwood in A Soldier's Play
Roundabout Theatre Company has released some footage from the new production of Charles Fuller's play, directed by Kenny Leon.
Watch Norm Lewis and Jessie Mueller Lead the Cast of <em>The Music Man</em>
Video Flash
Editor's Pick
Watch Norm Lewis and Jessie Mueller Lead the Cast of The Music Man
The Kennedy Center has released a montage of its Broadway Center Stage production.
Flashback Friday: Tonya Pinkins's Incredible "Lot's Wife" From <em>Caroline, or Change</em>
Video Flash
Editor's Pick
Flashback Friday: Tonya Pinkins's Incredible "Lot's Wife" From Caroline, or Change
Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori's musical will be revived this spring.
Watch Billy Porter Slay "Everything's Coming Up Roses" During a Tonys Commerical Break
Video Flash
Editor's Pick
Watch Billy Porter Slay "Everything's Coming Up Roses" During a Tonys Commerical Break
Here's what you didn't see on TV.