Black Ensemble Theater announces Black Playwright's Festival

Feb 24, 2012
Black Ensemble Theater

Black Ensemble Theater (BE) announces its 7th annual Black Playwright's Festival, March 19-24, 2012, as part of the company's Black Playwright's Initiative (BPI). The Festival, at the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street, brings new scripts to the BE stage for readings after being developed through the BPI in workshops and rehearsals.

The 2012 BPI Black Playwright's Festival opens with an Opening Party and Tribute to award-winning playwright, actor and director Regina Taylor, directed by Black Ensemble Theater Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor, on Monday, March 19, at 7:00pm. The Festival includes full-length plays by Leonard Ferris, Creola Thomas, Wendell Etherly and Rueben Echoles, and 10-minute works by Wendell Etherly, Loy A. Webb and Andre Wright.

"Black Ensemble Theater is committed to identifying and developing new playwrights. Since the BPI started seven years ago, ten members have had their plays professionally produced-four at Black Ensemble Theater, four at other local theaters and two nationally," says Jackie Taylor. "We invite the community to experience new readings by our playwrights in a series of entertaining evenings, and it is our mission to usher these talented Black artists into the local and national spotlight."

The BPI develops and strengthens the playwriting skills of novice and experienced playwrights. It is the purpose of the BPI to expose the playwrights to local and national theater companies who may be interested in their work and to identify and develop potential writers for the Black Ensemble Theater. To this end, the BPI involves its 27 members in a mentoring process to teach the basic skills necessary to develop a script for the stage; to enhance the abilities of experienced playwrights to transform their non-musical scripts into musical productions; to provide opportunities, resources and exposure to the Black playwriting community; and to ensure future productions for the Black Ensemble Theater.

Black Ensemble Theater produces approximately 15 BPI readings of new scripts per year, the annual Sex in the Summer Play Series, and the annual Black Playwright's Festival.

The BPI Black Playwright's Festival is held at the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street. Valet parking is available. Tickets, $15 for each evening, or $50 for the entire Festival, are available online at www.ticketmaster.com or at the BE box office, (773) 769-4451.