Black or Black-led plays and musicals to see in 2023
Theater-goers anticipating the Broadway debut of “Room” are going to have to wait a while longer. Take a trip to watch these productions while you wait for the anticipated play’s opening night.
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The opening night for one of Broadway’s most anticipated plays has been halted. Emma Donoghue’s “Room” was unexpectedly postponed indefinitely. The play has already graced the stages of other cities and received rave reviews with every show.
Playbill reported that previews of the play were slated to begin at New York’s James Earl Jones Theatre on April 3 for a limited engagement. The production would then be open to the public on April 17 and run through September 17.
According to the outlet, the reason behind the production disruption was a “shortfall in capitalization” and “the withdrawal of a lead producer.” Tony Award winner Adrienne Warren was set to lead the cast. The play featured a diverse cast with several Black actors, including Tony nominee Ephraim Sykes, Michael Genet and Triney Sandoval. It also introduced child actors Aiden Mekhi Sierra and Christopher Woodley.
“Room” made its way from London with its 2017 premiere at Theatre Royal Stratford East to Dublin at the Abbey Theatre. Its North American premiere was in 2022 in London, Ontario; production later transferred to Toronto and had its final performance on May 8, 2022.
With the unforeseen standstill of the play, that’s one less Black-led production on stages this summer. To fill the void, we’ve found some productions showcasing Black actors under bright lights.
“In 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 afloat. Intimate and emotional, ‘Black Mother Lost Daughter’ shows how a national reckoning echoes in the lives of three women.” – via National Black Theatre
“It’s a sweltering summer in Flatbush. In a neighborhood overrun by wrecking crews and new construction, the five 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, gentrification, and where a woman’s place is in a rapidly changing world. Drenched in sparkling, witty dialog, ‘Bernarda’s Daughters’ is a thrilling, engrossing exploration of a family at a crossroads.” – via National Black Theatre
“It’s a terrific twist of fates! The inspired Disney animated film is now a mythical new musical adventure. ‘Hercules’ is the divinely funny story of an honest-to-Zeus hero on a quest to discover who he is and where he belongs. Is love a possibility too? Oh, Hades, yes! The roof-raising score by Alan Menken and David Zippel features all the hits you love from the film, including the Oscar®-nominated song “Go The Distance,” as well as ‘Zero to Hero’ and ‘I Won’t Say (I’m in Love),’ along with new songs written for the stage. The show features a new book by Tony Award® winner Robert Horn (‘Tootsie’) and Kwame Kwei-Armah (artistic director of London’s ‘Young Vic’), and direction by Obie Award-winning Lear deBessonet.” – via Papermill
Personality: The Lloyd Price Musical
“From obscure beginnings to overnight teen sensation, from unsung trailblazer to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the story of Lloyd Price has never been told onstage— until now. Featuring a stellar cast of twelve singers and dancers performing iconic hits ‘Lawdy Miss Clawdy,’ ‘Stagger Lee,’ and the legendary song that became his namesake, this world premiere musical celebrates one of the most resilient and influential entertainers of our time, Lloyd ‘Mr. Personality’ Price.” – via Playbill
“It’s the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, but not quite as you know it. Written by Charlie Smalls and William F. Brown, The Wiz reimagines the story of Dorothy and Co. with an entirely African-American cast and a score infused with infectious gospel and soul. The show’s best-known numbers are ‘Be the Lion’ and ‘Ease on Down the Road’. Originally debuting on Broadway in 1975, The Wiz won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score, and was later adapted into the cult movie of the same, which starred Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.” – via Atlanta Theater
Martie Bowser is a journalist and public relations professional in Charlotte, NC. She enjoys amplifying the voices of POC and women that fill a void within their community. Her bylines include “person of interest” interviews, small business highlights, pop culture commentary, entertainment features, and everything Beyonce.
