National Black Theatre has revealed the lineup of productions for its 2024–2025 season. During the upcoming season, entitled The Pilgrimage: A Journey Back Home, NBT will prepare to return to its Harlem theatre complex home, which is currently under construction.
The season will begin with The Divining: Ceremonies from in the name of the m/other tree, a piece written, directed, and choreographed by Ebony Noelle Golden and featuring the Jupiter Performance Studio. The three-part series of ritual performances, processions, and visual installations will be presented September 13-15 and September 21-22. The Divining is a co-production with The Apollo, who originally commissioned the work.
The North American premiere of Smita James, Veronique Efomi, and Munganyende's KINGS...come home will follow, running March 5-16, 2025, at The Victoria Theatre at The Apollo. Directed by Ira Kip and co-director Winston "Winnie" Bergwijn, the play tells the story of a family looking for a new home. The work is co-produced by Kip Republic.
From April 17-May 25, NBT, Vineyard Theatre, and The New Group will present the world premiere of Nazareth Hassan's Bowl EP. The piece follows Kelly K Klarkson and Quentavius da Quitter, who are searching for a name for their rap group in between practicing skate tricks. Playwright Hassan will also direct.
Next in the season is the New York premiere of Aishah Rahman's Chiaroscuro, presented in association with The Flea. The play explores the social implications of the contrast between dark and light as it relates to skin color, specifically within the Black community. The production will run May 26-June 22, with abigail jean-baptiste at the helm.
The season will close with a public presentation of Sweetwater: The Gospel of Iman, penned by NBT’s I Am Soul Playwright Resident Nathan Yungerberg and running June 26-29. Zhailon Levingston (CATS: "The Jellicle Ball") will direct. The newly commissioned work delves into the strength of chosen family through the eyes of Umar, a young gay Black writer residing in New York City during the AIDS epidemic.
“As National Black Theatre continues its own homecoming with the construction of our new arts complex, we’re proud to share The Pilgrimage: A Journey Back Home with our audiences," Sade Lythcott, NBT's Chief Executive Officer, said in a statement. "This season speaks to our ethos as an organization, proving that the stage is a vital tool for liberation, nurturing new voices and honoring those who paved the way for us to create freely.”
Visit NationalBlackTheatre.org for more information.
