National BlackTheatreFestival will haveinternational impact The 1997 National Black Theatre p.m. to midnight; and will run Celebrity guests included Ashford and Festival (NBTF), one of the most his¬ Wednesday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m.- Simpson, Roscoe Lee Browne, Ruby toric and culturally significant events, 6:00 p.m. and reopening from 9:00 Dee and Ossie Davis, Antonio Fargas, not only in the history of black theatre p.m. to midnight. Louis Gossett, Jr., Esther Rolle, Cicely but American theatre in general, will The Reader's Theatre will present Tyson, Melvin Van Peebles, August once again be held in the city of "Theatre Conversation at Midnight" Wilson and Oprah Winfrey. Among Winston-Salem and the state of North and "Before High Noon Stagecoach the 17 black theatres from America Carolina August 4 through August 9th. Shootout" redux, These readings will performing were the Negro Ensemble Over 50,000 people are expected to showcase IS or more new plays by up Company, North Carolina Black attend the events. and coming playwrights. Garland Lee Repertory Company, JOMANDI Thompson, director of the FRANK Productions of Atlanta Cultural The theme for the fifth National Silvera Writer's Workshop, will once Odyssey of San Francisco, Carpet Bag Black Theatre Festival is "An Internationa] Celebration and Reunion of Spirit." Black theatres from Europe, Hamlin: The man behind the Caribbean, Africa and the United the Feati# States, representing over 20 produc¬ Larry Leon 1 tions, will the week Hamlin has lectured 1 perform during on black theatre at and in and sem¬ i participate workshops such prestigious ¦* inars designed to create a World Black institutions as Yale Theatre Movement. Theatre . artists, H University School of administrators, producers, presenters Prima, University of and scholars from Brazil, Cuba, Connecticut, New Yak Jamaica, Bermuda, London, Canada, University and Brown the of University. Mr. tUroHn Ghana, Republic Benin, Is * after Nigeria, South Africa and America, widely sought VH| including the Pulitzer Prize-winning ' will playwright August Wilson, j tively.Hehubeeothetecipi- ~ address issues related to World Black eu of over 65 awards sad dia-^ Theatre by participating in one of the tion for his contributions to the most exciting components of the theatrical field. Mr. Hamlin received Ilia theatre training at Brown Festival, an International University utkler the direction of & late Geotge Houston Colloquia/Workshop entitled "The Bass as a member of Rites and Reason Theatre r*«_ rvn. - rwy* nf . «-i /> f: ^ Company. DiacK ineaire: ine oiacic ramiiy un He received his business education at Johaaon k wales Stage." The International university. Colloquia/Workshop is being orga- % Mr. Hamlin is also a professional actor, director and nized by the North Carolina Black playwright. His acting experience includes stage, film and Repertory and Winston- first professional Mick theatre in the Stat* of North television. Mr. Hamlin has written four full-length plays Company Carolina. Under Mr. Hamlin's direction, the North and has directed over 120 productions. He is the only Salem State University, and coordinat¬ Carolina Slack Repertory Company has been recognized American producer and artistic director toproduce 20 ed by Dr. Olasope O. Oyelaran of for itf superior artistic excellence as the company has plays for 82 performances in six days, in addition to over Winston-Saleip State University. | tour^MnDitt Anierica and abroad. Both institutions are 25 workshops and seminars during fhat same period. Schedules for the free workshops and oncn powKQ as ixmc moons ior omcr meaire compft- Mr. Hamlin has played a major role in bringing over seminars will be available at the infor- nies abd IBS organizations in the United States and abroad. 125,000 tourists to the city of Winston-Salem and Forsyth mation tjjble, located in the lobby of Presently at the helm of the World Black Theatre County since 1989. The 1995 National Black Theatre the Adam's Mark East Tower Hotel. Manp|N§L ispy MmJmttdSik Is pescnUy engaged ill Festival attracted theatre companies, actors, directors, play¬ effort connect black theatres It is his wrights, scholars and the general public not only from The Youth/Celebrity Project is \ daring tp globally. America but from England, Jamaica, Nigeria, Brazil, another component of the Festival that goal niat attjn In eflhrt win strengthen the black theatres of Ghana and Mr. Hamlin is fcem to with one voice, Canada, South Africa, Sene$d. includes young people of all ages from speak securing presently planning the 1997 National Black Theatre around the country who will interact the^w^tod^OW Festival which will be held in the city of Winston-Salem with celebrities and theatre profession¬ August 4 through the 9. als. The celebrities inspire, provided- guidance, and assure participants that again serve as curator of the series. Theatre from Tennessee, Oakland Harry Belafonte served as co-chairs they can achieve anything to which The 2nd Biennial NBTF Golf Ensemble, National Black Touring for the '93 Festival and Billy Dee they aspire. This program is free to Tournament will be held at Reynolds Circuit of New York and the Williams served as chair in 1995. participants. By making this program Park Course. Entry fee of $360 for Philadelphia Freedom Theatre. All Celebrities attending the '91 and accessible, the NBTF hopes to encour¬ The 3-Man Bunny Hop includes the production received excellent reviews '93 Festivals included John Amos, age a new generation of theatre enthu¬ team's green fee and golf cart. The from the major newspapers and maga¬ Angela Bassett, Ed Bernard, Jason siasts. event takes place Saturday and zines from around the country. Bernard, Avery Brooks, Rosalind The Vendor's Market will be Sunday, August 9-10, 1997. Tee time The 1991, 1993 and 1995 National Cash, Bill Cobbs, Clifton Davis, located at the Benton Convention is 8:00 a.m. sharp. Black Theatre Festival drew larger Ja'Net DuBois, Bill Duke, Robert Earl Center. It is a bazaar of The first National Black Theatre comprised crowds and enjoyed even greater suc¬ Lonne Elder Frances vendors from around the world dis¬ Festival was held in 1989. It was the Jones, III, Foster, cess than in 1989. Ruby Dee and Ossie A1 Freeman, Glover, Pam and selling their unique mer¬ first time that the 250 Black theatres in Danny playing Davis served as co-chairs for the '91 Grier, Robert Guillaume, Moses Gunn, chandise. The market will open America had come together. Maya Festival 1997 from 6:00 served as its first Tuesday, August 5, Angelou chairperson. Sidney Poitier, Delia Reese, and Ser IMPACT on It.