Black Theatre Network

39th Annual Convening
2025-07-24 - 2025-07-26
Conference details here

Youth Summer Experience - FADE TO BACK ARTS FESTIVAL
2025-06-08 - 2025-06-13
Youth Summer Experience
FADE TO BACK ARTS FESTIVAL
June 8th – 13th, 2025
WWW.FADETOBLAGKFEST.COM/2025
PHYLICIA RASHAD
FESTIVAL AMBASSADOR

ANNOUNCING THE AUGUST WILSON FELLOWSHIP FOR STUDENTS OF COLOR IN DESIGN AND THEATRE TECHNOLOGY
2025-04-26
The first August Wilson Fellowship will be announced in Washington, DC, on April 26, 2025, at the 60th Anniversary Gala of the College of Fellows with special guests and “Wilsonian Warrior” actors Stephen McKinley Henderson, Andre De Shields, and Phylicia Rashad, and Executor of the August Wilson Legacy, LLC Foundation, Constanza Romero Wilson.
Learn more

Call for Papers the Black Theatre Review Vol. 4 No. 1
2025-03-07
tBTR is pleased to accept submissions for its fifth publication, Vol. 4 No. 1, to be published online in September 2025. We invite authors to reflect on the Labor of Black Theatre Pedagogies in historically white colleges and universities.
Call for Papers
the Black Theatre Review
Vol. 4 No. 1
Call for Papers tBTR

Black Theatre Network's Literary Salon
2025-03-02 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago)
Black Theatre Network’s Literary Salon
CELEBRATING THE ARTS OF THE DIASPORA
LIVE STREAMED
ON BLACK THEATRE NETWORK’S
FACEBOOK PAGE
SUNDAY 3/2/25
6:00 PM EASTERN
FEATURING
BRYAN-KEYTH WILSON
Curated by Renee

Membership Mondays, Critical Conversations Series: Black Theatre in the Age of Unrest with BRYAN-KEYTH WILSON
2025-02-10 19:00 - 20:00
Black Theatre in the Age of Unrest
with BRYAN-KEYTH WILSON
Black Theatre Network is proud to invite you to Membership Mondays on February 10th, 2025, at 8PM ET, 7PM CT, and 5PM PT, for Black Theatre in the Age of Unrest.
Bryan-Keyth explores how Black theatre artists can harness the power of storytelling to challenge oppression, heal communities, and ignite change.

FSWW PLAY READING: SISTER SUFFRAGISTS & THE HARLEM HELLFIGHTER
2025-01-26 15:00 - 17:00
FSWW PLAY READING: SISTER SUFFRAGISTS & THE HARLEM HELLFIGHTER
FSWW, in partnership with Zoomcatchers and The Billie Holiday Theatre is pleased to present Sister Suffragists & The Harlem Hellfighter by Sheila Bassoppo-Moyo and directed by Byron Saunders. Sister Suffragists & The Harlem Hellfighter is a historical drama that brings to life the courageous activism of three African American suffragists—Victoria Clay Haley, Madame C.J. Walker, and Ida B. Wells—and their connection to Sergeant Henry Johnson, a member of the famed Harlem Hellfighters. Set against the backdrop of St. Louis in the early 20th century, the play explores the intersection of racial justice, women’s rights, and wartime heroism. These three trailblazing women work tirelessly to secure the passage of the 19th Amendment, all while confronting the pervasive racism of their time. Their efforts to bring Sergeant Henry Johnson to St. Louis to expose the U.S. military’s discriminatory treatment of Black soldiers underscores their commitment to racial equity on a national scale. There will be a moderated critique session immediately following this reading where you can offer direct feedback to the playwright.
This event will be live streamed on Zoom. Attendees must RSVP here

BTN Literary Salon With Special Guest Melissa MICKENS
2025-01-19 17:00 - 19:00
Black Theatre Network’s Literary Salon
CELERATING THE ARTS OF THE DIASPORA
BROADCAST LIVE
JANUARY 19, 2025
6:00 PM EST
LIVESTREAMED ON BLACK THEATRE NETWORK’S Facebook PAGE
Curated by Renee
Featuring
Melissa Mickens

Melissa MICKENS is an actress, writer, director, producer, and teaching artist based in Brooklyn. A NYU Tisch School of the Arts graduate, prior to becoming the Artistic Production Associate at Manhattan Theatre Club she was program director of the Stella Adler Youth and Summer Shakespeare Programs as well as the Black Arts Institute Coordinator, a partnership with The Billie Holiday Theatre in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn. A proud member of ACTOR’S EQUITY ASSOCIATION, Melissa was last seen in the Private Theater’s production of ROCCO, CHELSEA…at HERE Arts. She has also appeared in productions at the Brick, JACK Arts, ARS Nova ANT Fest, Downtown Urban Theatre Festival, National Black Theatre, The Lark, Williamstown Theatre Festival and the Hangar Theatre in Ithaca, NY. Melissa is also the award-winning creator and producer of the web series, SHAMPAGNE, where she received the award for best web series at the Hip Hop Film Festival NY in 2016 and best original sitcom screenplay at the Miami Web Fest 2016. A champion for inclusion and diversity in the non-profit entertainment industry, she is passionate about arts institutions mirroring the audiences they wish to include, transform and empower.

Membership Mondays - Critical Conversations with Jackie Leavitt ( Web Designer and Marketing Coach)
2024-12-30 20:00 - 21:00
Membership Mondays – Critical Conversations with Jackie Leavitt ( Web Designer and Marketing Coach)
Creative Visibility: Elevate Your Brand
How to boost your creative brand across social media, email, and more—tailored for creative professionals.

Email organizer for access link

Black Theatre Network Literary Salon
2024-12-28 17:00 - 19:00

Membership Mondays - Critical Conversations with Emmanuel Neal, PhD --Business Psychologist and Leadership Coach
2024-12-16 15:00 - 16:00
Membership Mondays – Critical Conversations with Emmanuel Neal, PhD –Business Psychologist and Business Coach — Learn how to excel in your business and life .

Email organizer for access link.

BTN - Webpage Site Training
2024-12-10 11:00 - 22:30
BTN – Webpage Site Training – Jackie Leavitt ( Web Designer and Marketing Coach) – Learn to navigate BTN’s new website.

Membership Mondays - Critical Conversations with Toni Simmons Henson
2024-12-09 19:00 - 20:00
Membership Mondays – Critical Conversations with Toni Simmons Henson – Executive Direct of Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) and Founder of Atlanta Black Theatre Festival.

2025 CONFERENCE PLANNING TOWN HALL
2024-12-09 17:00 - 18:00
Hello BTN Family,

We are in the throes of planning the FY25 Conference to be held in California. we want to hear from you. We will host a virtual CONFERENCE PLANNING TOWN HALL on December 9th at 5pm PST/7pm CST/8pm EST. If you have ideas around the upcoming conference, now is the time to share. Whether you can attend the meeting or not, please go here to help us record your thoughts or to express interest in serving in the planning process.
We hope to see you on December 9th!
Thanks for your input on the CONFERENCE IDEA FORM!

BTN - Webpage Site Training
2024-12-05 17:00 - 18:00
BTN – Webpage Site Training
Jackie Leavitt – Learn to navigate BTN’s new member portal

Membership Mondays - BTN Town Hall West Coast - Conference Planning Meeting
2024-12-02 19:00 - 20:00

Black Theatre Network's 39th Anniversary
2024-12-01 08:00 - 17:00 | A Venue, 440 Burroughs Street, Suite 152, Detroit, MI, 48126, United States
Black Theatre Network’s 39th Anniversary

TBA
2024-11-18 08:00 - 17:00

Tax Preparation – Myron Thomas, CPA
2024-11-04 08:00 - 17:00 | A Venue, 440 Burroughs Street, Suite 152, Detroit, MI, 48126, United States

Arts and Government - Gina M. Jacksom
2024-10-28 08:00 - 17:00 | A Venue, 440 Burroughs Street, Suite 152, Detroit, MI, 48126, United States
Arts and Government – Gina M. Jacksom

Shubert Foundation – Amy Dorfman Wine and Rebecca Hewitt
2024-10-14 10:30 - 13:00 | A Venue, 440 Burroughs Street, Suite 152, Detroit, MI, 48126, United States
Dedicated to the Exploration and Preservation of the Theatrical Visions of the African Diaspora

Black Theatre Day
2024-08-17 08:00 - 17:00 | A Venue, 440 Burroughs Street, Suite 152, Detroit, MI, 48126, United States

BTN 2024 Centering Blackness: Nurturing the Creative Spirit
2024-07-26 - 2024-07-29 | The Historic Brookstown Inn, 200 Brookstown Ave, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, United States
Welcome to Black Theatre Network’s 38TH Annual Convening.
This year’s theme is Centering Blackness: Nurturing the Creative Spirit !!
This is our annual gathering and celebration of theatre of the African Diaspora.
