BLACK THEATRE NETWORK 31st Anniversary Conference

LOOK at US NOW!

A LOOK BACK AS WE MOVE INTO THE FUTURE

BROOKSTOWN INN WINSTON - SALEM, NC. JULY 27 - 31

WWW.BLACKTHEATRENETWORK.ORG Black Theatre Network (BTN) promotes and strengthens the national Black Theatre community by collecting, processing, and distributing information and resources for artists, academics and lovers of Black Theatre. BTN’s function is to expose the beauty and complexity of the inherited theatre work of our African American ancestors and to take this work to a higher level into the 21st century and beyond. We seek to unite those who share this rich inheritance to assure we all work TOGETHER in promoting quality artistic and aesthetic standards and historical scholarship. The following nine principles are the foundation of the purpose of BTN: 1. To maintain an effective network to collect and disseminate information regarding Black theatre activity throughout the Diaspora; 2. To encourage research, scholarship and publication in Black theatre arts; 3. To promote the professional growth of BTN’s membership; 4. To encourage the inclusion of Black theatre arts in all levels of education; 5. To promote excellence in the teaching of Black theatre arts and the training of Black theatre artists; 6. To encourage the production of Black plays; 7. To establish standards and monitor appropriate utilization of Black artists in all aspects of theatre including: casting in non-traditional roles, technical, managerial and promotional assignments; 8. To provide a forum for discussion of the Black experience in the theatre and of the contributions of Blacks in the theatre; and 9. To strengthen and influence the field of theatre especially through interaction and exchange with other theatre organizations. The Past Presidents of BTN:

Black Theatre Network Ethel Pitts-Walker 1986-1988 Executive Board 2016-2018 Rhonnie Washington 1988-1990 President: John Shévin Foster Addell Anderson 1990-1992 Vice President: Andre Harrington Kathryn Ervin 1992-1994 Secretary: James Brown Lundeana Thomas 1994-1996 Asst. Secretary: Greg Williams Mikell Pinkney 1996-1988 Treasurer: K. Zaheerah Sultan Lorna Littleway 1998-1999 Parliamentarian: Chris Berry Eileen Morris 1999-2002 Public Relations Chair: Marcia Pendelton Marvin Sims 2002-2003 Membership Chair: Daphnie Sicre Gregory Horton 2003-2006 Graduate Liaison: Dexter Henderson Sandra Shannon 2006-2008 Undergraduate Liaison: Denise Foley Luther Wells 2008-2011 Immediate Past President: kb saine Artisia Green 2010-2012 Consultants: Michael Dinwiddie, Kathryn Michael Dinwiddie 2012-2014 Ervin, Gregory Horton kb saine 2014-2016

2 The Origins of the Black Theatre Network The story of the creation and development of the Black Theatre Network (BTN) can hardly be told with full accuracy by any one individual. BTN is an organization where the labor of many has come together to form the whole, where individual contributions are too numerous to fully recount.

The seeds of BTN were planted by the African American educators of the National Association of Dramatic and Speech Arts (NADSA). These educators joined the American Theatre Association (ATA) when it became more receptive to people of color. In 1965, the Afro-Asian Theatre Project was founded under the ATA. Subsequently, the group within the Project interested in Black Theatre formed the African Theatre Project, which ultimately became the Black Theatre Program (BTP). It was 1985, at the ATA meeting in Toronto, Canada, that talk of the organization’s structural problems became a concern for members of the BTP.

In 1986, the inevitable happened: ATA folded, and a group of Black Theatre devotees met in New York City at the National Education Theatre Conference (NETC), to bemoan the demise and to excitedly debate the future of the defunct BTP. Against the backdrop of the lobby bar of the Milford Hotel, these pioneers pondered the feasibility of creating a new Black theatre organization. This new organization would rise like the Phoenix to provide a service to those facing displacement, while at the same time securing a haven for future artists and scholars.

As strategy sessions moved to New York University the group faced its first major decision: to follow the safe path by joining forces with the newly created Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE), or to tread on what was perceived as uncharted territory and build a separate nationalistic organization.

During the 1986 meeting, as the hours passed and the debate raged on, the revolutionaries were determined to strike out on their own, and after much fiery wrangling, the decision was made to form the “Black Theatre Network.” So all will know who brought this vision to life, the names are recalled here: Addell Austin-Anderson, George Bass, Buddy Butler, Don Evans, Kathryn Ervin, Winona Fletcher, Coleman Freeman, Floyd Gaffney, Errol Hill, Woodie King, Jr., Bill Lewis, J.W. Lewis, Vernell Lillie, Barbara Molette, Carlton Molette, Louis Rivers, Freda Scott-Giles, Archie Simpson, Marvin Sims, Lundeana Thomas, Barbara Votja, Rhonnie Washington, Von Washington, Ethel Pitts-Walker, Phillip Walker, and Allen Williams.

A communal position paper was drafted and adopted, officers were elected, and the Black Theatre Network came to light. The first officers were Ethel Pitts-Walker (President), Rhonnie Washington (Vice President), Addell Austin-Anderson (Secretary), William Lewis (Treasurer), Von H. Washington (Newsletter Editor), Marvin Sims (Program Chair/ Conference Planner), and an Advisory Board that included Winona Fletcher, Errol Hill, Vernell Lillie and Margaret Wilkerson.

(This history has been constructed from articles by BTN Presidents Ethel Pitts-Walker and Mikell Pinkney)

To hear founding President, Dr. Ethyl Pitts Walker, discuss the origins of the Black Theatre Network, log onto www.blacktheatrehistory.com & listen to her tell the tale on the black theatre history podcast.

3 BTN NATIONAL STUDENTQUEST CONFERENCE SITES PROGRAMMING 2016 Chicago, IL (w/ATHE) 2015 Winston-Salem, NC (NBTF #13) StudentQuest is a series of classes, activities, 2014 New York, NY (Gallatin School at NYU) and career-building sessions particularly 2013/ Winston-Salem, NC (NBTF #12) selected for the students attending BTN conferences. They provide the opportunity for 2012 / Atlanta, GA BTN members to invest in the future of Black 2011 / Winston-Salem, NC (NBTF #11) Theatre through discussions, sharings, and new 2010 / Los Angeles, CA skills. Student participants are encouraged to 2009 / Winston-Salem, NC (NBTF #10) attend these sessions as well as to participate in any of the other sessions that interest or 2008/ Lake Buena Vista, FL (Disney) inspire them. Likewise, these sessions are open 2007/ Greensboro, NC (NC A&T University) to all conference participants. 2006 / Louisville, KY (University of Louisville African American Theatre Program) StudentQuest was named to reflect two major 2005 / Winston-Salem, NC (NBTF #9) purposes: First, the program would aid 2004 / Kent, OH (Kent State University) students in their quest to find well-suited 2003 / Winston-Salem, NC (NBTF #8) graduate schools and help them make informed 2002 / San Francisco, CA career development decisions; second, it would help graduate programs in their quest to find 2001 / Winston-Salem, NC (NBTF #7) minority students to bring to their institutions. 2000 / St. Louis, MO (St. Louis University) The concept was introduced in 1995 at the 9th 1999 / Winston-Salem, NC (NBTF #6) BTN Conference in Winston-Salem as the 1st 1998 / Houston, TX (Ensemble Theatre Company) National Minority Student Auditions. 1997 / Winston-Salem, NC (NBTF #5) 1996 / New York NY The program was formally named 1995 / Winston-Salem, NC (NBTF #4) StudentQuest and first presented with a new format in 1996 at the BTN 10th conference in 1994 / Chicago, IL New York City. It soon became a favorite 1993 / Winston-Salem, NC (NBTF #3) among conference goers, as BTN members were 1992 / Detroit, MI eager to share their knowledge with a new 1991 / Winston-Salem, NC (NBTF #2) generation. Since then, StudentQuest has become an important cornerstone of BTN 1990 / Atlanta, GA (NBAF) conferences and includes a variety of activities 1989/ New York City (ATHE) & Winston-Salem, NC designed to include and increase student (National Black Theatre Festival -NBTF #1) participation. 1988 / Atlanta, GA (Clark-Atlanta University & National Black Arts Festival)

4 Black Theatre Network 31st Annual Conference

Table of Contents

2 Black Theatre Network Purpose and Mission Past Presidents 3 The Origins of the Black Theatre Network 4 Conference History & StudentQuest Details 6 Map of Brookstown Inn Conference Area 7 From the President 8 From the Vice President/Conference Planner Conference Schedule 10 Thursday, July 27 10 Friday, July 28 13 Saturday, July 29 15 Sunday, July 30 17 Monday, July 31 BTN Awards 19 Larry Leon Hamlin Legacy Award- Eileen Morris 20 Young Scholars Competition Winners 22 Our Ascendants, We Salute You!

5 Brookstown Inn Conference Locations

Sims

(not accessible to BTN guests)

Lewis Molette Burbridge

Dining Room & Bar Walcott Lobby Day The Marvin Sims HospitalityConference Suite is a space for members to gather in fellowship. Room

& next year… BTN32 2018 Memphis, Tenn.

6 From the President Greetings BTN Family and Friends,

It is indeed a pleasure to welcome you to our thirty-first annual conference, “Look at us NOW”, reflecting the ideas of the past, present and future of black theatre. Our board, advisors and volunteers have worked tirelessly to prepare an exciting and enlightening weekend for us. All you need to do is open yourself and share your expertise, receive what your colleagues will offer and engage in the fellowship that will happen over the next few days.

At our last conference, I introduced the mission of greater self-sustainability within the organization, and throughout the year we have begun working towards this goal. I greatly appreciate the initiatives taken by all our board members, including kb saine, who has significantly updated our digital presence including Black Theatre Connections, Greg Williams, who is giving us a stronger social media presence, and K. Zaheerah Sultan, who is currently working towards more grants and sponsorships. Special acknowledgement must be given to Chris Berry for the bike trek fundraising campaign he initiated, “Get Chris to BTN”. It is a huge undertaking and clearly one of love for BTN. If you have not given him your financial support yet, please do so right away.

At thirty-one, we have our largest registered membership in several years, and we continue to grow. In this regard I encourage you to become ambassadors for us – to both new members who are here for the first time, and to practitioners at home you feel should be a part of this conference. Equally important, please take time to sit and speak with our founding members and all the elders of black theatre present. Also, let’s be sure to make space for our young artists/educators who are eager to be a part of this experience.

Special appreciation is given to our conference planner, Andre Harrington, for his excellent work, and to everyone who assisted in helping facilitate this outstanding weekend. Additionally, a sincere thank you to Allison Watts and The Historic Brookstown Inn for another year of outstanding service. Congratulations on your tenth anniversary of serving as our Winston-Salem host site, and on your beautiful building upgrades.

So much new information on black theatre will be shared this weekend. Please take advantage of every opportunity to fully immerse yourself, and to come away with renewed vigor and passion. I look forward to experiencing every moment with you and to an outstanding year ahead.

Yours in Black Theatre,

Dr. John Shévin Foster, President

7 From the Vice President/Conference Planner

Look at us: NOW!

As I sat during one of the sessions of last year’s conference in Chicago celebrating the 30th anniversary of BTN, my gaze across the room included faces of the past, nods of the present and smiles of the future. We continue to celebrate our anniversary with this year’s conference.

The organization’s history is rich, sweet and savory, almost like an apple pie. But sometimes apples are bitter, the core is rotten and the skin bruised. The pie itself can be soggy, too tangy and the crust dry. I like my apples, crisp, chilled and sparkling bright! I like my crust flaky, buttery and dense enough to support a substantive number of apples. BTN is that apple pie for me.

Welcome to the 2017 annual Black Theatre Network Conference. We are again convening in Winston-Salem, North Carolina hosted by the Brookstown Inn. It is a pleasure to return to a sense of home and family as we preface the National Black Theatre Festival. This year’s theme- Look at us: NOW! reflects the ideas of the past, current and future- it is not wrong to go back and get what you have forgotten. We must always reflect and honor the shoulders upon which we stand, acknowledge the roles of the giants that are here and inspire others, including our upcoming scholars, artists and practitioners, to carry to torch.

Please join me and the BTN executive board as we welcome you to participate and enjoy the various plenary sessions, workshops and activities outlined for the conference. I am sure you will find a moment that gives you inspiration, knowledge and insight, fueling your passion to begin another year in your academic and professional lives.

BTN is about networking, get on up and mingle, shake a hand of someone you don’t know, smile across the room at an old friend and make new ones as we fellowship in the name of Black Theatre.

Yours,

Andre Harrington, Vice President

8 North East Regional Chapter (NYC) Salutes Board Member Chris Berry for “GET CHRIS TO BTN” Bike Ride from NYC to Winston Salem, NC (600 Miles) as a fundraiser for BTN

North East Regional and BTN Board Members Chris Berry, Parliamentarian Daphnie Sicre, Membership Chair John Shévin Foster, President

9 Black Theatre Network 31st Annual Conference Schedule

Thursday, July 27 - Pre-Conference 4:00 - 6:00 Executive Board Meeting – Sims Lounge

6:00 - 8:00 Registration – Walcott Lobby Facilitated by Renee Charlow, BTN Business Manager

Friday, July 28 - Let us greet the day- where are we? July 27 Thursday,

8:30 - 4:00 Registration – Walcott Lobby Facilitated by Renee Charlow, BTN Business Manager

9:00 Warm Up & Greet the Day – Brookstown Inn Lower Courtyard Led by Kathryn Ervin

Garage Sale Drop-Off Begins – Conference Area Lobby

10:00 - 11:00 Black Theatre History Podcast Live Recording – Lewis Room Facilitated by kb saine, director

Black Theatre History Podcast host kb saine will interview North Carolina A&T State University resident costumer designer Gregory Horton, who is being recognized at the National Black Theatre Festival for Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design, about his carrer, his favorite costume designs, and his many life experiences in this live podcast recording. Friday, July 28 July Friday, 11:15 Continuum Editors Meeting - Day Conference Room Facilitated by Dr. Freda Scott Giles

11:15-12:15 Where are the Designers of Color? – Molette Room Andre Harrington, costume designer- California State University, San Bernardino Gregory Horton, costume designer- North Carolina A&T University Kathy Perkins, lighting designer- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Latrice Lovett, lighting designer- freelance artist based in High Point, NC

How do we cultivate and encourage a career in theatre design and technical work? This roundtable discussion will include best practices and strategies for encouraging young students to consider a career in theatre design.

10 Friday, July 28, cont.

12:30-1:45 Chris Berry Bike-a-thon Arrival Celebration and Reception Brookstown Inn Upper Courtyard

Celebrate with us as we welcome Chris & those who helped “Get Chris to BTN!” and acknowledge the fund raising strategy he engineered as he “crosses the finish line” from his trek from NYC to Winston-Salem NC. This fundraising event is a milestone in the development of BTN and a historic moment for all to see.

2:00 - 2:50 Funding minority owned theatres to promote social and economic change Burbridge Room Led by K. Zaheerah Sultan, Mind Your Business Art

Providing insight to today’s ever-changing landscape of audience development, economic sovereignty and nonprofit sustainability, this presentation will address strategies and programmable opportunities that speak to a wide audience of theatre artists and practitioners.

Directing Harriet Jacobs – a process paper - Molette Room Presented by Billicia Charnelle Hines-Wayne State University

Harriet Jacobs is an adaptation from the autobiography, “Incidents in the Life of a 28 July Friday, Slave Girl”. Lydia Diamond successfully paints a realistic portrayal of slavery through Jacobs narrative while weaving in other slave narratives to provide a full context of the story. Tackling this phenomenal play is already a wonderful challenge. This paper explores the rehearsal process all the way to closing night at Wayne State University. What were the challenges college students faced delving into a world that is unknown to them? What were the discoveries? How was this play received by the Wayne State University and Detroit community?

3:00 - 4:00 StudentQuest Meet & Greet– Molette Room Facilitated by Chris Berry and kb saine

Gather and prepare for an exciting opportunity to meet colleagues from other institutions, share practical theatre practices & applications, and prepare for a unprecedented presentation of one-act plays. If possible, acting students should be prepared with a short monologue, and should bring one copy of their headshot & resume; technical students should only bring a resume. Wear comfortable & casual clothing - this is a relaxed & celebratory time to meet one another & make some art!

11 Friday, July 28, cont.

3:00 - 4:00 Living Your Brand – Burbridge Room Led by Greg Williams, Jr. - New Venture Theatre

You are more than just your appearance. You have a personality. An opinion. And sometimes: an attitude. You are the culmination of all your experiences, and so is your brand. With a multitude of generic cultural options to choose from, how can you capture attention and cultivate loyalty through lifestyle affiliation? From the basics of brand components to creative execution of cultures of connection, this session will help you understand the importance of building community with all your constituents.

4:00 - 5:00 Business Meeting – Burbridge Room

All conference participants are urged to join the Executive Board for this update on the conference, and on the business of the Black Theatre Network.

5:00-6:30 Young, Gifted, Black and Matters! - Teaching and Preforming Activism Paper presented by Yunina Barbour-Payne Digital Media as Pedogogy for Theatre Research in Suzan-Lori Park’sVenus Paper presented by Dr. Amy Rose Forbes-Erickson, Kent State University Molette Room

An exciting panel of pedagogy and practice. Each participant speaks to the ever- Friday, July 28 July Friday,

developing practice and in-classroom dynamics that address social issues of the day, August 8 Monday, historic context of where we are as a people and the ever-expanding landscape of instruction and knowledge for the generation of students we teach.

6:30-8:30 Dinner (on your own)

8:30 Mixer Night! - Sims Room

A fun evening’s event/networking opportunity. Gather, giggle and get to know one another with board games, card games and Kahoot! Join us for a night of laughter and trivia! All conference participants are encouraged to join in the fun.

Let’s have another moment to celebrate Chris Berry! If you’ve missed the chance to donate to Chris’ unprecedented fundraising efforts befoe the conference began & would like to do so today, please see Business Manager Renee Charlow or Treasurer K. Zaherrah Sultan, or visit our website at www.blacktheatrenetwork.org. Contributions will be collected throughout the conference.

12 Saturday, July 29 - We have a lot to say: what, where, why, when, & how

8:30 - 4:00 Registration – Walcott Lobby Facilitated by Renee Charlow, BTN Business Manager

8:30 Warm Up & Greet the Day – Brookstown Inn Lower Courtyard Led by Kathryn Ervin

9:30-11:00 Regional Caucus Meetings -Burbridge Room Led by Daphnie Sicre Meet with others in your BTN region; find nearby resources and collegues, and plan regional events.

To be or not to be: prep for after graduation - Molette Room Facilitated by Dr. Vanita Vactor, North Carolina A&T

This workshop is designed for undergraduate rising junior and senior theatre majors, who will soon begin their future careers. It is never too soon to begin planning for the futrure, and this workshop will help students make those first steps. Activities and topics include: self-assessment inventory, "friends, foes, and dream stoppers," strategy of inquiry, diversity buzz killers, "snow boots vs. snow cones," and a plan of action. Handouts, suggested resources, and a reading list will be provided. Participants will need a smart phone, an ipad, tablet, or a laptop.

29 July Saturday, Racial Battle Fatigue/Workshop - Lewis Room Facilitated by Scott Reese - University of Maryland, College Park

We are experiencing a different landscape of social and political change, and are tired, exhausted and floundering for solutions to manage our daily activities, our interaction with students and colleagues. This workshop will address options and solutions for change, growth and renewal as we prepare for the upcoming season of teaching, mentoring and practice as theatre practitioners of the diaspora.

11:00-12:30 Keynote: Town Hall- Burbridge Room Dr. John S. Foster, President - Black Theatre Network (Facilitator) Teresa Eyring, Executive Director - Theatre Communications Group Gary Anderson, Artistic Director - Plowshares Theatre Eileen Morris, Artistic Director - Ensemble Theatre

Join us as we begin to examine ‘Look at Us Now” in terms of theatre practices, pedagogy and industry standards. This panel will examine and explore the current state of ‘black’ theatre as it applies to the academy, the disciple and the industry. Panels will share research, observations and qualitative findings to support and investigate what it is we do, perform and practice on the stage.

13 Saturday, July 29, cont.

12:30-1:30 Executive Board Meeting – Day Conference Room

12:15 - 1:45 Lunch (On Your Own)

2:00 - 3:15 We Have a Dog in This Fight: Community Organizing 101 Burbridge Room Led by Yvette Heyliger and Yvonne Farrow, Twinbiz

Since the last presidential election, Americans are embracing political activism like no time in recent memory. As artists and educators inspired by the art/activism brand of 1960s community organizing, the struggle continues. Join Organizing for Action community organizing leaders and theatre artists; this nonpartisan workshop will focus on the power of Personal Story to help educators and students turn passion into action.

Hip Hop Theatre Performance: An Intersection of Millennials, Culture and Process - Molette Room Led by Chris Berry, Assistant Professor, Florida A&M University

Join us as we experience the dynamic voice of today’s collegiate community. We Saturday, July 29 July Saturday, will discover and experience the genre of hip hop theatre as prescribed by one of the noted and well respected institutions of black theatre. Allow yourself to be immersed in the current practices and creation of contemporary work, and understand the voice of the next generation.

3:45-4:15 The Informance Presentation of Hip Hop workshop experience

Join us as we witness the development of contemporary theatre practices with this display of on onsite and improvised work that will speak to ever the changing landscape of theatre from the diaspora.

4:30-5:30 TCG Legacy Leaders of Color Video Project

This past year, Theatre Communications Group (TCG) filmed a series of interviews chronicling the stories of founding leaders of theatres of color. BTN members & friends featured in the videos are: Lou Bellamy (Penumbra Theatre;) Woodie King, Jr. (New Federal Theatre;) Jackie Taylor (Black Ensemble Theater;) and Douglas Turner Ward (Negro Ensemble Company.) Join TCG and BTN for a special screening of part of this new, historic documentary series.

6:00-7:30 BTN President’s Reception

7:30-9:30 Dinner on your own 14 Sunday, July 30 - Celebrate the NOW!

9:30-10:15 Salute to the Ascendants - Lower Courtyard Kathy Ervin and Luther Wells

Join us for our annual celebration of the legacy of our ancestors. It is befitting that we as a community speak to the tradition of acknowledging those that came before us. This spirited acknowledgement and circle celebration will leave you humble, grateful and spiritually fulfilled.

10:30-12:30 Awards brunch

We acknowledge black theatre’s great leaders, and bestow the Larry Leon Hamlin Award during our annual brunch celebration. Come mingle, laugh and share moments of history as we celebrate our committed relationship to the National Black Theatre Festival. We will honor our beloved and celebrated Eileen Morris, Artistic Director of the Ensemble Theatre of Houston, Texas.

1:00 Garage Sale Begins

1:30 - 3:30 S. Randolph Edmonds Young Scholars Awards Presentation

We support and acknowledge the next generation of scholars and practitioners of black theater. Help us celebrate Deanna-Lauryn Patrick and Jessica Elyse Bouyer and their research and investigation into the art and practice of black theatre.

(additional details on pages 20 & 21.) July 30 Sunday, Reception Conversation: meet and greet with young scholars; facilitated by Kathryn Ervin We are who we are because of what we are. Join us as we share the knowledge of the elders, impart strategies and provide wisdom for the generation ahead. Lifetime members will share anecdotes and strategies for the upcoming and next generation for survival, perpetuity and everlasting existence as a member of the black theatre experience.

Salute to the Ascendants The Salute to the Ascendents is an opportunity for BTN members to gather for reflection and remembrance of those who have passed on from our earthly journey. We pause in gratitude for all that we have, and express our thanks to all those who have come before us and who have provided so much to enrich the present.

During this celebratory ceremony, we will pour a libation to honor their sacrifice. We will speak the names of the visionaries on whose shoulders we stand. And in this time of speaking and remembering, we will strengthen the shared ties that hold us together.

15 Sunday, July 30, cont.

3:30-4:30 Creating a New Black Musical - Burbridge Room Presented by Jae Antoinette Broderick, playwright

What up!... the new landscape of theatrical performance is an ever-changing platform. Join us as we here about current practices, historical constructs and the need for change. This presentation will provide you in-depth analysis to the current wave of theatrical practices while providing contemporary strategies to use within your own theatre community.

‘Odd’ Visions and Odyssey Dog: Hero’s Wars in Father Comes Home from the Wars: Parts 1,2&3 Presented by La Tanya L. Rogers Ph.D., University of the District of Columbia

Join us as we examine the hegemony and current discourse of the historical theatrical prototypes in terms of performance and text. This presentation will provide insight and discoveries to why we think the way we do and options for self-discovery as we teach the current generation of African descents.

4:30-6:00 BTN General Business Meeting Plan to attend!

6:00-7:00 Student Quest rehearsal & tech

6:00-8:00 Dinner (on your own) July 30 Sunday,

8:30-10:00 Reading/Presentation: the Molette Project

Join us as we celebrate Barbara and Carlton Molette, and their commitment and dedication to BTN. As a part of our Student Quest programming, we will celebrate the Molette’s contributions to Black Theatre by presenting a few of their one act plays. Please join us as we celebrate and honor the contributions of a true pair of pioneers in Black Theatre.

pictured, left: Carlton & Barbara Molette

16 Monday, July 31 - Sankofa Day: it is not wrong to go back ….so that we may move forward

8:30 - 4:00 Registration – Walcott Lobby Facilitated by Renee Charlow, BTN Business Manager

8:30 Warm Up & Greet the Day – Brookstown Inn Lower Courtyard Led by Kathryn Ervin

9:00-11:20 The shoulders upon whose we stand - Burbridge Room “W E B Dubois: The Criteria of Negro Art” Presented by Dr. Mikel Pinkney, Florida State University "Examining strategies and approaches to teaching August Wilson” Presented by Kathryn Ervin, California State University - San Bernadino and Dr. Sandra Shannon, Howard University

Join us as we celebrate, honor and understand the philosophy of renowned black theatre pioneers and scholars. The initial presentation will surely highlight and affirm for us what is means to be a black theatre artist, as we prepare to continue and participate in the struggle for finding our voice as black theatre makers. The Wilson workshop will also look at available materials and how they may be used in the classroom. Monday, July 31 Monday, Cultivating Audiences - Molette Room Presented by Greg Williams, Artistic Director New Venture Theatre and Marcia Pendleton, Walk Tall Girl Productions

The rapidly changing landscape of technology and digital experiences has led to innovative, ground-breaking opportunities for connecting with new audiences. With the rise of online streaming, interactive social media, and video content, digital media is quickly emerging as the medium for delivering unique experiences and growing arts participation. To effectively maximize the digital landscape, you need to know the strategies for developing and distributing compelling, creative content. Hear the latest innovations, affordable tools, distribution channels, and techniques to leverage digital marketing for your organization.

11:30-1:00 Lunch (on your own)

17 Monday, July 31, cont.

1:00-2:00 Conversation with Tarell Alvin McCraney Moderated by Marcia Pendleton, Walk Tall Girl Productions

Tarell Alvin McCraney, winner of the BTN Presidential Pathfinder Award in 2012, has had quite an eventful year. He took home an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for Moonlight, which also won Best Play. He was also named to head the playwrighting program at Yale School of Drama- his alma mater. How does a kid from Liberty City in Miami, FL get to great heights in both the theater and film industries? Tarell will

share his story and answer your questions in this amazing conversation via Skype. July 31 Monday, . 2:15-3:30 Town Hall Discussion: planning for the future

3:30 Adjourn

18 BTN The 2017 Larry Leon Hamlin Legacy Award Awards In 2013, the Black Theatre Network instituted the Larry Leon Hamlin Legacy Award. Named in honor of the founder of the National Black Theatre Festival® (NBTF), the award is presented biannually to an individual who “accepts the challenge to sustain and enrich the vision of the founder of an established institution devoted to the development of black culture."

The 2017 Larry Leon Hamlin Legacy Award Recipient Eileen J. Morris, Artistic Director The Ensemble Theatre, Houston Texas

Eileen J. Morris is a director, actress and educator in which her art reflects her ministry. She worked closely with the founder of The Ensemble Theatre, George W. Hawkins, from 1982 until his death in 1990. As Artistic Director of The Ensemble Theatre, she has produced over 78 productions, which include four world premieres and 57 regional premieres. She recently received the 2016 Houston Press Theatre Award for Best Director for Fences. Her most recent Ensemble Theatre directing credits include Front Porch Society, Sassy Mamas, Plenty of Time, Detroit ’67, Fences, What I Learned In Paris, Women in the Pit, Immediate Family, By The Way Meet Vera Stark, The Old Settler, Race, Broke-ology and The Nacirema Society, to name a few.

In Houston, her directing credits include The Alley Theatre Education Department and last year’s world premiere of What Wings They Were: The Story of Emeline for the Houston Grand Opera Education Department. She recently received the BCCM Kim Kupp Award. She was honored at the Houston Community College-Central Campus 2016 Unstoppable Leaders Gala and was featured in the Women In Theatre Magazine (December 2011 Issue) and honored at the 2011 National Black Theatre Festival with the Larry Leon Hamlin Producer Award. She is a new board member the national organization, Theatre Communications Group (TCG), is board member, secretary and Cultural Arts Committee Chair of the Midtown Management District, served on the Mayor’s Quality of Life Transitional Team Committee and is a board member of the national organization, The Black Theatre Network. Eileen holds the distinct privilege of being the ONLY woman in the country to have directed eight plays of the August Excellence - Dedication - Innovation Wilson 10 play cycle.

19 BTN Awards S. Randolph Edmonds Young Scholars Competition

In recognition of Black Theatre scholar and educator, S. Randolph Edmonds, The Black Theatre Network instituted the S. Randolph Edmonds Young Scholars Competition in 1988. The competition seeks to encourage research and scholarship in Black Theatre by both undergraduate and graduate studenst. The S. Randolph Edmonds Young Scholars Competition supports BTN’s mission: to expose the beauty and complexity of the inherited theatre work of our African American ancestors, as well as to preserve and develop Black Theatre’s unique art form.

2017 Young Scholars Competition Winners:

1st Place Undergraduate Deanna-Lauryn Patrick; Florida A&M University (Junior) “Gender Differences in Black Theatre”

2nd Place Undergraduate Jessica Elyse Bouyer; Florida A&M University (Graduate!) "African Male Characters in Black Theatre"

S. Randolph Edmonds graduated from Oberlin College in 1926 with a BA in English, and received his MA from Columbia in 1931. In 1936, he organized black colleges throughout the south and southwest into the Southern Association of Dramatic and Speech Arts. Edmunds was not only a promoter of dramatic organizations at black colleges, he was also a prolific playwright who championed the use of African-American materials, themes, and traditions in his plays. He recognized three necessities for the development of black American theater: playwrights, trained in gifted guidance, and an audience. S. Randolph Edmonds retired in 1970, and has been recognized as a pioneer in the Black Theatre Movement. biography culled from Mary Anne Boelcskevy’s entry in Harlem Renaissance Lives. Excellence - Dedication - Innovation

20 2017 Young Scholars Competition Winners

1st Place Undergraduate Deanna-Lauryn Patrick; Florida A&M university (Junior) “Gender Differences in Black Theatre”

Deanna-Lauryn Patrick is a second-year pre-professional pharmacy student at Florida A&M University. Growing up, she was introduced to the wonderful world of theatre through her older sister, who was heavily involved with theatre through drama clubs since middle school. This is the first time Deanna-Lauryn has entered a written piece to the Black Theatre Network, and she has found the experience to be fun and rewarding.

PAPER ABSTRACT: American society is obsessed with gendering. From objects, such as toys, to the most abstract, such as behavior, everything and everyone is expected to adhere to a societal norm regarding gender. These gender roles that were created forces us to place ourselves in boxes that often restrict us from living our lives in the way that we want to—or meant to. Such is the case with racial identity politics in that our society is becoming more conscious about how positive or negative connotations on skin color warps our perceptions to expect either the best, or the worst, from others. Because subjective views on race and gender determine how we perceive others to be, it often leaves little room for an individual to correctly shape their identities it is one reason why theatre is such an important element to our lives. It has the unique ability to become a reflection of the times, and it is through theatre that audiences can contemplate the present—and even get glimpses of society in the past. “Gender Differences in Black Theatre” explores how male and female characters in August Wilson’s Fences, Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, Pearl Cleage’s Blues for an Alabama Sky and Harrison David Rivers’s When Last We Flew are portrayed through the lens of gender roles, while examining how their race interferes with those roles.

2nd Place Undergraduate Jessica Elyse Bouyer; Florida A&M University (Graduate!) "African Male Characters in Black Theatre"

Jessica Bouyer is a summa cum laude graduate with honors from Florida A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism. She enjoys telling stories that affect the community and reflect our society. Her aspiration is to continue telling stories that affect everyday citizens as a reporter and documentarian for a major news network. Jessica enjoys watching movies, reading books, and spending time with family and friends.

PAPER ABSTRACT: The American dream for African American men is many times a dreamed deferred. This theatre analysis paper delves into the pain and disappointment many African American men experience as they journey through life. The artwork of three African American playwrights offer perspective on the African American male experience. August Wilson (Fences and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom), Lorraine Hansberry (A Raisin in the Sun) and Theodore Ward (The Big White Fog) wrote stories that depicted the struggles and decisions Black characters made and encountered. Although some of the plays were written years ago, they continue to resonate in today’s society. The purpose of this paper is to illuminate a Black man’s strife for the American dream promised to every hardworking citizen: for a better life. The plays illustrate the causality and circumstances of not achieving their dreams.

21 A SALUTE TO OUR ASCENDANTS We honor those who have come and gone before us, for the paths they have created and the successes they have garnered that enable us to continue our work. By naming our conference rooms and gathering spaces in honor of our ascendants, we invoke their presence and ask them to guide us as we claim and inhabit our meeting spaces, our sharing spaces, and our ritual spaces. Edward “Ed” Burbridge, designer (1933 – 2016) From his beginnings as one of the founding members of the Negro Ensemble Company to his time as an Associate Professor at UCLA in the 1980s, Burbridge was more than a driving force in theatre and designed such shows as: The River Niger; The First Breeze of Summer; Checkmates; and Mule Bone. He also served as Costume Supervisor for many shows including What The Wine-Sellers Buy.

Barbara Molette, playwright and University Professor (1940 – 2017) Barbara was a model, actresses (“Imitation of Life”), scholar, sculptor, painter, costume designer, prolific writer and entrepreneur that loved to travel the world. She was best known for her contribution to the theatre and prided herself on her writing partnership with her husband, Carlton. With him she wrote more than 20 plays, 2 books and many scholarly works. They have received lifetime achievement awards from the Atlanta Black Theatre Festival, National Black Theatre Festival and Black Theatre Network. She was a university professor whose influence spanned 5 continents and 50 years.

Joan Williams Lewis, director, producer, educator, dramaturg, lighting designer, actress, writer, and VP of Williams Electric, Co. (194X – 2016) Associate Professor and Director of Theatre at several college and universities, Joan Williams Lewis workshopped, served as Dramaturge and was an active consultant and panelist for national and international festivals, institutions, foundations, and professional theatre companies. She directed and-or produced over one hundred productions for the professional, educational, and community theatre. She was a founding member of Black Theatre Network.

Derek Walcott, poet and playwright (1930 – 2017) A Nobel Prize winner for Literature, Walcott founded the Trinidad Theatre Workshop in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad in 1959. His best-known play was Dream on Monkey Mountain; he also wrote the book/collaborated with Paul Simon on the lyrics for The Capeman, His plays have been produced by New York Shakespeare Festival, Mark Taper Forum, the Negro Ensemble Company, the American Repertory Theatre, Arena Stage, Guthrie Theatre, and the Royal Shakespeare Company, among others. He was the founder and artistic director of Boston Playwrights' Theatre.

Frankie Day, higher ed. administrator, director & actor (1956 - 2015) Frankie Day blazed new trails for African American women in theater, particularly educational theater where she set the standard for how to manage, design and execute strong academic programs. After being a working actor in Atlanta, she served for 28 years at North Carolina A & T University where she became both head of the theatre program and executive director of the university’s Paul Robeson Theatre.

The BTN Hospitality Suite is consistently named for the great Marvin L. Sims (1948 – 2003,) who was a director, actor, educator & afounding Member of BTN. He simultaneously served as BTN’s and ATHE ’s president when he transitioned. Love & laughter are part of his legacy; please enjoy your time in this space.

...and the many other visionaries and pathfinders to whom we owe a debt of love and gratitude...

22 BTN thanks the following groups & organizations for their ongoing partnerships & support: The Journal of African Diaspora Drama, Theatre and Performance

CONTINUUM is an academic service of the Black Theatre Network, dedicated to

Mind Your Business Art fostering scholarship on the past, Walk Tall Girl Productions present and future of African Diaspora New Venture Theatre performing arts.

The Theatre Arts Program at North Carolina Learn more & read recent editions at A&T State University continuumjournal.org

AUDELCO The Audience Development Committee, Inc. recognizes The Black Theatre Network for the past 31 YEARS of supporting and promoting Black Theatre

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