The Billie Holiday Theatre's inaugural season reflects on the past into the future, exploring notions of sisterhood, family ties, love and loneliness, domestic terrorism against Blacks in the US, and colorism.
The Billie Holiday Theatre announced the inaugural season in its newly-renovated theater with award-winning works from the African American theater canon, beginning with "The Old Settler" by John Henry Redwood, directed by Michele Shay; the New York premiere of "A Small Oak Tree Runs Red" by Brooklyn author LeKethia Dalcoe, directed by Harry Lennix; and Dael Orlandersmith's Pulitzer Prize-nominated "Yellowman," led by Brooklyn director Timothy Douglas.
"The newly-renovated Billie Holiday Theatre propels us to a place of both new discovery and rediscovery," said Indira Etwaroo, executive director. "We use the power of theater to celebrate our joy, our dignity and our collective ability to laugh in the face of challenge, but, we also in the words of the great August Wilson 'wrestle with our demons [as a community], to cause our angels to sing.'"
In its 2017- 2018 season, the Billie Holiday Theatre, which is home to the largest African American community in the nation, will reflect on the past into the future, exploring notions of sisterhood, family ties, love and loneliness, domestic terrorism against Blacks in the US, and colorism. Pulitzer-wining playwright Lynn Nottage will curate a season of conversations to explore some of those most pressing issues through the lens of theater.
50in50: Writing Women Into Existence, a platform for Black women and girls from across the globe to share their stories, will also return to the Billie in partnership with RestorationART and the Frank Silvera Writers' Workshop. The inaugural 50in50 attracted more than 220 women and girls, ages 6 to 83 from Brooklyn and from around the world including Holland, South Africa, Canada and more. The call for submissions will go online in September 2017.
Subscriptions to the 2017-2018 season can be purchased by calling 718-636-6995 or by visiting TheBillieHoliday.org
