This summer budding actors and directors will have the chance hone their skills and theatre fans will be entertained in the nation’s capital during the DC Black Theatre Festival.
Starting June 19 attendees this year will be able to dive into all aspects of theater for when the festival takes over the District of Columbia for ten days.
The ten day festival is divided up into five categories consisting of workshops and stage performances.
Attendees will have the opportunity to see full length plays in three categories: Traditional, Urban and Gospel. This year only 100 plays were selected out of the 300 submissions and will introduce audiences to emerging playwrights and enjoy the works veterans such as August Wilson.
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e of this years anticipated performances will be from Vanessa Bell Calloway in Letters from Zora in her Own Words.
Washington DC is home to one of the largest deaf and hard of hearing populations in the United States. This year for the first time the festival will partner with these unique artist and writers to give hearing audiences an in depth look into deaf culture.
Acting workshops, for stage and film,will offer actors ranging from beginning to professional the opportunity to better their skills with workshops ranging from auditioning tips to improv classes.
Workshops in stage makeup, set design and costumes will also be offered to those who want to make magic behind the scenes.
Competition will take place at the festival in the form of the Director’s Challenge.
Aimed to highlight the creative process of directing the Director’s Challenge five directors are randomly chosen and blindly given a script for play to cast and direct within ten days. Each play is no longer than 25 minutes and will certainly put budding directors to the test.
Serving as an incubator for dramatic works the New Works Reading Series will provide emerging and established playwrights the chance to see their work on stage and collaborate with other professionals and engage in audience discussions. This is one of the free festival events, but those interested in attending must register and reserve a seat.
DC Black Theatre Festival take place from June 19 until June 28 and tickets can be purchased here.
