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Theater Sun Dec 05 2010
Black Playwrights Festival
The Black Ensemble Theater presents its sixth annual Black Playwrights Festival. The festival is produced by the theater's Black Playwrights Initiative (BPI), whose mission is to foster and unite Chicago's African-American playwright community; in addition, the BPI provides workshops, classes and other resources for black writers.
This year's festival opens on Monday, Dec. 6, with readings from works by Black Ensemble Theater Associate Artistic Director, Rueben Echoles, and playwrights Runako Jahi and Wendell Etherly. The evening will also feature a tribute to writer and Chicago native, Eric Monte, of Cooley High and "Good Times" fame.
Other festival highlights include The Rare Pearl (The Story of Pearl Bailey) , by Etherly, Lyle Miller's Urban Legend (The History of Tupac Shakur) and The Punk Ain't No Punk No More, a story about the ills of drugs and violence in the community, by Black Ensemble Theater Founder and Director, Jackie Taylor.
The festival wraps Monday, Dec.. 13, with an evening of poetry, acting and storytelling, as well as networking for fellow artists, writers, etc.
The Black Playwrights Festival runs Monday, Dec. 6 through Monday, Dec. 13, at the Black Ensemble Theater, 4520 N. Beacon. Tickets are $15 per single event; $40 for a full festival pass to all events. For the full event schedule and show times, visit blackensembletheater.org. Contact 773-769-4451 for more information.