When Preston Lane, Triad Stage's artistic director, first approached Donna Baldwin-Bradby about directing a show during Black History Month, she had plenty of ideas.
"I was pitching musicals, fun musicals, stuff like that," says Baldwin-Bradby, an adjunct theater professor at N.C. A&T .
But Lane didn't want something light. He asked Baldwin-Bradby to consider doing something a little more serious, edgy.
So she chose a dramatization of Pearl Cleage's "Mad at Miles: A Black Woman's Guide to Truth," a collection of essays about African American women facing domestic violence. The crux of the play is the story of the abusive relationship between Miles Davis and actress Cicely Tyson.
"She (Cleage) was a Miles Davis fan, and then she found his autobiography," explains Baldwin-Bradby. "He wrote about how he was abusive to women, and that was his attitude toward women. So, it's about that, but it's also about the abuse of women in general."
"Mad at Miles" is one of several theater productions presented during Black History Month. For many, theater lends naturally to the celebration of African American culture.
"From what I've learned and observed about black culture, going way back to our roots in Africa, storytelling was the dominant way to learn our history," explains Miller Lucky, associate professor of theater at N.C. A&T. "It was through the magic and festival of a storyteller, and their costume and rituals, that our stories were told."
Lucky thinks that tradition is still very much alive today in modern African American theater.
"We see the popularity of producers and writers like Tyler Perry, and I think he is so successful because he writes about African Americans, their culture, their language, their environment, all the settings African Americans can see and relate to," says Lucky. "It's not about others, it's about them, and it gives them a feeling of inclusion. It speaks to them, it's by them."
But African American theater isn't just for African Americans.
"If you're going to live in a diverse world, you're going to have to learn about the diverse world," says Lucky. "You need to have an understanding of other cultures, not just your own culture. What better way to shatter stereotypes than to learn about the culture? And a fun way to learn about that culture is to attend a play."
Some of the theater productions presented during Black History Month in the Triad.
"Mad at Miles: A Black Woman's Guide to Truth"
Presented by: Triad Stage
When: 7:30 Feb. 12-13, 20-21, 26-28 and March 5-7; 10 p.m. Feb. 13, 20-21, 27-28 and March 6-7; 7 p.m. March 7
Where: UpStage Cabaret, Triad Stage, 232 S. Elm St., Greensboro
Tickets: $10-$15
Information: 272-0160 or www.triadstage.org
"A Raisin in the Sun"
Presented by: Community Theatre of Greensboro
What: Lorraine Hansberry's classic play tells the story of a woman who loses her husband in 1950s Chicago. Fighting poverty and racism, she struggles to keep her family together.
When: 8 p.m. today through Saturday ; 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: The Greensboro Masonic Temple, 426 W. Market St., Greensboro
Tickets: $10-$25 (for all ticket purchases buy one ticket, get one free. Box office fees apply)
Information: 333-7469 or www.ctgso.org
"Black Pearl Sings!"
Presented by: Triad Stage
What: This musical drama follows Susannah Mullally as she travels the country during the Great Depression, recording lost traditional songs for the Library of Congress. Along her journey, she meets Pearl Johnson, a soulful singer and African American spiritual expert doing time in a Texas prison.
When: 7:30 p.m. today , Sunday , Feb. 10-12, Feb. 15; 8 p.m. Friday , Saturday , Feb. 13-14; 2 p.m. Sunday and Feb. 15.
Where: The Pyrle Theater, Triad Stage, 232 S. Elm St., Greensboro
Tickets: $10-$42
Information: 272-0160 or www.triadstage.org
"Mahalia"
Presented by: The Stained Glass Playhouse
What: Through hymns and spirituals, this musical celebrates the life of Mahalia Jackson, one of the most celebrated gospel singers.
When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 13-14, 20-21; 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15 and 22
Where: The Stained Glass Playhouse at Marvin United Methodist Church, 4401 Indiana Ave., Winston-Salem
Tickets: $10-$12
Information: 499-1010 or www.stainedglassplayhouse.org
"The Justice League Meets the Buffalo Soldiers"
What: This unique production combines comic book heroes with real-life heroes, the Buffalo Soldiers. A young Army brat learns to be proud of his father after he and his comic book heroes meet the Buffalo Soldiers, African American soldiers who served during the frontier days. Co-written by local playwrights Jackie Sanders and Ernest Hooker, an N.C. A&T graduate student majoring in history.
When: 2 p.m. Saturday
Where: Greensboro Historical Museum, 130 Summit Ave., Greensboro
Tickets: $2
Information: 392-9279
"Passage" presented by Reasons 2 Rhyme poetry series
What: An annual Black History Month production comprising spoken word poetry, dance, live music and theater. This is the first of a yearl ong series of events as part of Reasons 2 Rhyme, presented by Josephus Thompson, The United Arts Council of Greater Greensboro, Greensboro Public Library and City Arts.
When: 7 p.m. Sunday
Where: Dana Auditorium at Guilford College, 5800 West Friendly Ave., Greensboro
Tickets: Free
Information: 316-2000
Etc.: For more information on future Reasons 2 Rhyme events, visit Thompson's W eb site at www.josephusiii.com.
"One Monkey Don't Stop No Show" presented by N.C. A&T Theatre
What: The wacky exploits of a suburban Baptist minister's family keeps the action going in this comedy.
When: 8 p.m. Feb. 12-14, Feb. 19-21; 3 p.m. Feb. 15 and 22
Where: Paul Robeson Theatre, N.C. A&T Campus, Greensboro
Tickets: $5-$15
Information: 334-7749
"Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill" presented by Tennessee State University as part of the 2009 Region IV Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival hosted by UNCG.
What: A musical tribute/retelling of the life and music of Billie Holiday.
When: 8:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Aycock Auditorium, UNCG campus
Tickets: $10
Information: 334-4849 or boxoffice.uncg.edu
"A Lesson Before Dying" presented by Troy University as part of the 2009 Region IV Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival hosted by UNCG.
What: Set in 1950s Louisiana, a young African American boy is falsely accused of murder and sent to death row
When: Noon on Saturday
Where: Aycock Auditorium, UNCG campus
Tickets: $10
Information: 334-4849 or boxoffice.uncg.edu
"Home on the Mornin' Train" presented by N.C. Theatre for Young People and UNCG Theatre
What: In Talladega, Alabama in 1839 and Hamburg, Germany, in 1939, two groups of people find themselves on train rides that will change their lives. This play examines the journey they both made, and how both affected history and humanity.
When: 9:30 a.m. and noon, Feb. 24-27; 7 p.m. Feb. 26 and March 1; 8 p.m. Feb. 27-28; 2 p.m. Feb. 28 and March 1
Where: Taylor Theatre, 450 Tate St., UNCG campus
Tickets: $7-$12
Information: 334-4849 or boxoffice.uncg.edu (for group rates, please call 334-4392)
"Bullet Holes in the Wall: Reflections on Acts of Courage" presented by N.C. A&T Department of Visual and Performing Arts
What: This original piece features dance, spoken word and acting, telling the stories of the Woolworth's Sit-ins, the Dudley u prising/A&T s tudent r evolt and the Nazi/Klan versus Communist Workers Party. Featuring students and staff from N.C. A&T, as well as members of the Greensboro community, the production honors local residents' struggle for equal rights.
When: 8 p.m. Feb. 21
Where: Carolina Theatre, 310 S. Greene St., Greensboro
Tickets: $26.50 and $51.50
Information: 333-2695 or www.carolinatheatre.com
"Songs from the Soul" presented by The Children's Theatre of Winston-Salem
What: A revue of African American music from slave songs to jazz to blues to rap; it's also a vital history lesson that teaches pride, responsibility and respect. Performed by Theatre IV of Richmond, Va. Recommended for children 7 and older and grades 2 and up.
When: 10 a.m. and noon, Feb. 26
Where: The Arts Council Theatre, 610 Coliseum Dr., Winston-Salem
Tickets: $8
Information: 725-4531 or www.childrenstheatrews.org
Contact Jennifer Bringle at jenniferbringle@gmail.com.
