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Black playwrights are taking over Broadway this fall in a very major way. Every new play coming to Broadway is written by a Black playwright, according to Timeout. The racial representation in this latest Broadway season comes after global protests against racial injustice and after the Great White Way was shut down amid the coronavirus pandemic.
As the nation reopens and vaccination rates crawl upward, the decision to open Broadway was also made, though show times will reportedly be staggered. Tickets are already on sale through December and the show selection has something for everyone.
The seven newest plays coming to Broadway are, to some, a way forward for the industry, and advocates want ticket sales to reflect the importance of Black artistry. Though sales may be down across the board given the lag in tourism, supporting these shows is critical to getting underrepresented voices onto the main stage.
Check out the plays coming to Broadway below.
Pass Over
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Written by Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu, Pass Over made its NYC debut in 2018 at the Lincoln Center. Famed director and filmmaker Spike Lee created a film version of the play the same year and this season’s show will feature the original cast of Jon Michael Hill, Namir Smallwood, and Gabriel Ebert. You can catch this play at the August Wilson Theatre between August 4 - October 10. Tickets available by clicking here.
Lackawanna Blues
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The autobiographical solo play, set in NYC during the 1960s, was written by Ruben Santiago-Hudson. The playwright originally performed the play at the Public Theater in 2001 and is set to make the Broadway premiere alongside guitarist Junior Mack at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre starting September 14. Tickets go on sale August 10 and can be purchased here.
Chicken and Biscuits
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This comedy was written by Douglas Lyons and is set to be directed by Zhailon Levingston. A new cast featuring Norm Lewis, Michael Urie will take the stage at Circle in the Square from September 23 to January 2. Tickets are available here.
Thoughts of a Colored Man
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Playwright–poet Keenan Scott II’s Thoughts of a Colored Man first premiered at Syracuse Stage in 2019 and will hit Broadway starting October 1 at the John Golden Theatre. Keith David, Luke James, Bryan Terrell Clark, Da’Vinchi, Forrest McClendon,Tristan “Mack” Wilds, and Pose star Dyllón Burnside make up this star-studded cast. Steve H. Broadnax III is set to direct. Tickets are available here.
Trouble in Mind
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This 1955 play written by Alice Childress is making its Broadway debut this fall. Childress was the first Black woman to win an Obie Award for Best Original Play during the 1955-1956 Off-Broadway season. The play is scheduled to start on October 27 at the American Airlines Theatre. Tickets for this play have not gone on sale yet.
Clyde’s
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for TIME
This second collaboration between playwright Lynn Nottage and director Kate Whoriskey is set to hit Broadway between November 3 and January 26. Tickets are not yet on sale.
Skeleton Crew
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Dominique Morisseau wrote this drama that first premiered in NYC five years ago. The production is set to star Phylicia Rashad and is being directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre starting December 21. Tickets are going on sale September 9.
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