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2022/23SEASONLOVE, A RITUAL OF REPAIRNATIONALBLACKTHEATRE

We dress a certain way, we walk a certain way,We talk a certain way, we paint a certain way,we make love a certain way, you know All of these things we do in a different, Unique, specific way, that is personally ours.DR. BARBARA ANN TEERAS HEARD ON BEYONCé’S ALIEN SUPERSTARLOVE, A RITUAL OF REPAIR

Dear Family, A new year always feels full of unlimited possibilities, centered around the crafting of our intentions; what we desire to have happen in our lives, in our world, and in our community. 2022 was truly a benchmark year for NBT and in 2023, we invite you to be limitless. As Executive Artistic Director for eleven years, it has been my distinct honor to program, develop, enhance and craft the artistic vision for this institutional space to be a creative hub of cultural expression. This work has been accomplished in partnership and under the leadership of our CEO, Sade Lythcott. Advancing the dynamic vision of her mother, Dr. Barbara Ann Teer, our founder’s blueprint shines as a North Star guiding us through this journey. A journey that begins this season in August and runs until June 2023 landing us in another Founder’s Month Celebration.From community events like Learn To Love Yourself to workshop productions (The Gospel Woman, Black Mother Lost Daughter) to Walking with Amal to mainstage performances (AMANI, Bernarda’s Daughters), the Soul Series LAB residencies and Alternative Learning opportunities, NBT’s 2022-2023 season has been curated with a deep sense of LOVE that seeks to propel the collective understanding of life, society and humanity forward. During a very turbulent and often dynamically unpredictable world, we are being called to experience grief in the time of transformation. Collectively we get to experience a history-making moment witnessing the Broadway transfer of our 2022 co-production of FAT HAM, making NBT the third black theater to transfer a production to one of the LARGEST theatrical markets in the world. And through all of this creative magic stewarded by a skilled and powerful team NBT continues to progress the redevelopment of our home on 125th and Fifth Avenue, preparing “A Home Away From Home” for our community. All of this is because you help us be limitless.On behalf of Sade, the board and beloved staff of NBT, we invite you to invest, witness, and show up as part of your intention this whole year. Invest in Black artists who are developing new works. Witness the exploration of partnerships beyond NBT’s known walls at Chelsea Factory, The Flea Theater, Rattlestick Theater, The American Airlines Theater and The New Group, each breaking the glass ceiling of who can have access to these spaces. Show up for yourself, knowing that the room that was crafted by this home was set as space to holistically nourish. It is time for us to take our dreams into the light and these programs are moments to meet us all in the radiance.Sending healing love and light.LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

THE GOSPEL WOMANWORKSHOP PRODUCTIONNATIONAL BLACK THEATREWRITTEN BY TYLIE SHIDERDIRECTED BY ADRIENNE D. WILLIAMSMUSICAL DIRECTION BY AARON MARCELLUSSCAN TO LEARN MOREPresented at Chelsea Factory NYCSoon, Orpah, the award winning Soul singer, will arrive to record her live Gospel album in the church. In the interim, there is a boycott, the threat of a foreclosure, and a sororal feud over whose voice is on the demo that launched her career.NOVEMBER 9-13, 2022THE CHELSEA FACTORY547 West 26th StNew York, NY 10001

AMANI2022/23 SEASONWRITTEN BY a.k. payneDIRECTED BY josiah davisCo-production with Rattlestick TheaterAmani grows up building a rocket ship with her father, who vows to make it to outer space: where his child can breathe easy, where there are no gangs to take his rst love’s life, nor prisons to take Black boys’ best years. As Amani moves into adulthood, she seeks her voice and her own dreams. Will Amani make it to the moon?FEBRUARY 6 - MARCH 5, 2023RATTLESTICK THEATER224 Waverly PlaceNew York, NY 10014SCAN TO LEARN MOREOMARI K. CHANCELLOR KAI HEATHEDEN MARRYSHOWDENISE MANNINGMARS RUCKERWORLD PREMIERE

BERNARDA’SDAUGHTERSNATIONAL BLACK THEATREWRITTEN BY DIANE EXAVIERDIRECTED BY DOMINIQUE RIDERSCAN TO LEARN MORECo-production with The New GroupIt’s a sweltering summer in a Flatbush neighborhood overrun by wrecking crews and new construction, and the ve Abellard sisters take refuge in their family home. In spite of their jovial, teasing conversations, the sisters are mourning the death of their father and the changing neighborhood. Each of them is also confronting personal losses of their youth and their dreams for the future. Inspired by the classic play House of Bernarda Alba by Federico García Lorca, but bracingly contemporary, Bernarda’s Daughters confronts issues of class, race, gentrication, and where a woman’s place is in a rapidly changing world. MAY 2 - JUNE 18, 2023THE ROMULUS LINNEY COURTYARD THEATRE AT THE PERSHING SQUARE SIGNATURE CENTER480 W 42nd SreetNew York, NY 10036WORLD PREMIERE

2022/23 SEASONBLACK MOTHER LOST DAUGHTERNATIONAL BLACK THEATREWRITTEN BY FEDNA JACQUETDIRECTED BY Stevie Walker-WebbSCAN TO LEARN MOREPresented at The Flea TheaterIn this searing and haunted play, playwright Fedna Jacquet asks us to consider the gap between justice and responsibility. In life, Queen painted vivid portraits that captured the truth of her subjects — but when she is killed by police, her sister Princess hopes to keep Queen’s memory alive and their mother aoat. Intimate and emotional, Black Mother Lost Daughter shows how a national reckoning echoes in the lives of three women.June 21 - 25, 2023THE FLEA THEATER20 Thomas StreetNew York, NY 10007WORKSHOP PRODUCTION

PUBLIC PROGRAMMINGIn partnership with Turnout NYC and Uptown Grand Central, Learn to Love Yourself will feature commissioned, original soundscapes from acclaimed artists and sound designers. Headphones will be provided for the outdoor dance party in tandem with a portrait photography series that invites the community to have their portraits taken by notable photographers. All portrait photographers will use a set designed by acclaimed visual artist, Alixa Garcia.This free, community-oriented initiative will provide infrastructure support for New York City-based arts and cultural organizations while expanding access to the arts across the city. Supported by the Mellon Foundation.COMMISSIONED SOUND ARTISTSJOJO ABOTHOLLAND ANDREWSJUSTIN HICKSAARON MARCELLUSMIKAAL SULAIMANMUSIC BY DJ STORMIN’ NORMANPORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHERSBRAYLEN DIONLELUND DUROND THOMPSONERIC HART JR.GIONCARLO VALENTINESATURDAYS, 3PM-6PM AUGUST 13 - SEPTEMBER 3 2022125th Street Underpass at Park AvenueLEARN TO LOVEYOURSELFSILENT DISCO + PORTRAIT SERIES

National Black Theatre is excited to welcome Little Amal to New York City! Traveling far and wide, the 12-foot puppet will explore The Sounds of Harlem welcomed by the drumming students of the Harlem School of the Arts and The Kotchegna Dance Company. Drawn to the wonderment and joyful vibration, join our celebration of welcome as we engage in a second line processional through the streets of Harlem down 126th Street from The State Oce Building to the entrance of Marcus Garvey Park, allowing Amal to feel the unforgettable pulse of the vibrant community of Harlem!Walk with Amal is a co-production between The Walk Productions and St. Ann’s Warehouse in association with Handspring Puppet Company. This dynamic cultural exchange is free to the public.September 26, 2022 3:00 PM – 5:00 PMAdam Clayton Powell Jr. State Oce Building163 West 125th Street New York, NY 10027LEARN TO LOVEYOURSELFLITTLE AMALAND THE SOUNDS OF HARLEMSILENT DISCO + PORTRAIT SERIES

JUNE 18, 2023PARK AVENUE ARMORY643 Park Avenue New York, NY 10065HIDDENCONVERSATIONSIn celebration of Juneteenth and National Black Theatre’s Founder’s Day, NBT partners with Park Avenue Armory to illuminate and share the wisdom of the forebearers of culture and society. Centering new work by Claudia Rankine, join us in examining a lost interview between Audre Lorde and James Baldwin. This event will create cultural awareness and fresh excitement around hidden cultural moments that shaped thoughts, experiences, and visions for the future. Presented in partnership with Park Avenue Armory

YOUR HOME AWAY FROM HOMETheatrical ProductionNBT uses a multidisciplinary theatrical approach to activate a pedagogy around present pulse theater. The theatrical productions at NBT are tools to center, hu-manize, and heal communities through the power of investing in unapologetic Black storytelling that illuminates current topics present in the Culture/commu-nity today. Our holistic producing process provides multiple touchpoints to the producations through exhibition, and reective dialogue to engage participating audience.ARTIST RESIDENCIESNBT’s Soul Series L.A.B. (Liberating Artistic Bravery) is a competitive modern 10 to 18-month laboratory for accelerating, developing, and creating inno-vative new work by cutting-edge playwrights, directors, and producers. NBT has directly invested over $10 million in more than 300 original works by Black artists since its founding.ALTERNATIVE LEARNING & SOCIAL IMPACTNBT’s approach to educating, empowering and informing our community is through activating programs that center the fact we are all lifelong learners as a central practice. Using alternative techniques, we center our healing arts and social impact pedagogy through curated seminars, workshops, professional development opportunities, and dramaturgical exhibitions.Pictured (Left to Right) : The Gathering, Dreaming Zenzile, Fat Ham, Learn To Love Yourself, Walk with Little Amal, The Gospel Woman

2022-23 SEASON SUPPORTERSADDITIONAL SEASON PARTNERSDIGITAL PROGRAMMINGIn response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the NBT@Home initiative was created to deliver open access digital programs to a global audience online. The initiative, now an anchor within the organization, features new lm works, curated conversations with NBT leaders, partners, and collaborators, along with archival screenings of our most celebrated symposiums, exhibitions, documentaries, and performances.

NBT is embarking on a historic major capital redevelopment project that will transform the current property into a 21st-century destination for Black culture through theatre. This redevelopment project will anchor and recapitalize the institution for an even brighter future with a 250-seat exible temple space and a 99-seat studio theater.“We are driven by a mandate to create a rigorous laboratory, training ground, and incubator for Black people to actualize their wholeness through creative expression and spiritual freedom. This mission is our inheritance.” - Sade Lythcott, CEO The nation’s rst revenue-generating Black arts complex, NBT was founded in 1968 by the late visionary artist Dr. Barbara Ann Teer. NBT is the longest-running Black theatre in New York City, one of the oldest theaters founded and consistently operated by a woman of color. NBT uses a multidisciplinary approach as a means to center, humanize and heal Black communities through the power of unapologetic Black storytelling. NBT’s unique approach to Black liberation, Art, and Placemaking act as a change agent to combat systemic oppression, which creates the space for human transformation. BUILDING OUR FUTURESUPPORT US! DONATE AT NATIONALBLACKTHEATRE.ORG

BOARD OF DIRECTORS STAFF Michael F. LythcottBoard Chair Linara DavidsonTreasurer Velma BanksSecretary David Alan Grier Robert HarveyVan Jones Zoë Kravitz Cleo WadeMichelle WilsonSade Lythcott Chief Executive Ocer Jonathan McCroryExecutive Artistic DirectorAshley Antwi Development Manager Brittany Davis Executive Assistant to the CEO & Executive Artistic Director Maya Davis Creative Producing Manager Abisola Pat Faison Director of FinanceDenzel Faison Operations Manager Nabii Faison Director of Entrepreneurial Arts Program Barrie Koegel Chief Operating Ocer Marley-Rose Liburd Marketing CoordinatorKamilah Long Director of DevelopmentBelynda M’BayeSoul Series L.A.B & Special Projects Program Manager Byron McCray MillerMarketing Director Ava Novak Theatre Arts Program Coordinator Mandesia SibiyaAlternative Learning Coordinator

NATIONAL BLACK THEATRE 213 WEST 137TH STREET NEW YORK, NY 10030(212) 722-3800 info@nationalblacktheatreNATIONALBLACKTHEATRE.ORG@natblacktheatreEDQ