For our next Network meeting, the American Theatre Wing is bringing together a panel of Black theatre creators, educators, and leaders for a conversation on anti-Blackness within our industry, the power structures at play, and how we can create a more equitable American Theatre. Our panelists will share their experiences and perspectives on the ways systemic racism has impacted Black members of the theatre community. It is our goal that this discussion will help us to move forward as an industry by contributing to a deeper understanding, and by generating ideas for ways we can make meaningful change.
Please join us for a panel discussion on Thursday, August 6th,
from 6:30PM – 8:00PM Eastern Time (ET) –

Not Going Back to Normal – Moving Forward

Our Moderator:

Binta Niambi Brown

Founder of omalilly projects, an artist management and production company. Most recently, Binta was Head of Business Affairs at Nice Work, and led Chance the Rapper’s record label & publishing operation as a member of his management team. Binta has also executive produced several projects, including a forthcoming project by Tank & the Bangas, and is a strategic producing partner for the new Mandela Musical (and producer of its corresponding concept album and original soundtrack recordings). Binta separately manages GRAMMY Award winning producer and artist Peter CottonTale and several other emerging artists. Prior to her career in music, Binta was a highly regarded international corporate lawyer and human rights advocate. She sits on multiple boards, including the American Theatre Wing, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and Merit School of Music, and is Co-President and co-founder of the Black Music Action Coalition.

Our Panelists:

Amara Brady

(She/Her/Hers) A generative artist & cultural dramaturg from Chicago. At the crux of her artistry is uplifting Black women and connecting underserved communities to theatrical experiences. She’s currently in Residence with Experimental Bitch Presents and The Parsnip Ship and created her own production company (Un)Solicited Productions. As an actor she’s been on stage at The Lark, Joe’s Pub, Barrington Stage Co., NYTW, 54 Below, & others. She’s a member of Joe Iconis’ & family. As a writer she has been a semi-finalist for Space on Ryder Farm, an inaugural member of the Showdogs playwriting collective, and a member of SHECreates NYC’s Myths and Legends.Check out her YouTube Series, ‘Skinny & White’ Aren’t Character Traits. In This Paper I’ll Explain. Give some space to Women of Color & Trans Folx. Ashé to the ancestors. All Power to all people. Instagram: @bradynotthebunch
Marilyn McCormick
An advocate of theatre as a means for social change, Marilyn is beyond grateful to be a part of a team of artists with similar goals and visions to fertilize that seed in Detroit, Michigan. Inspired and encouraged by her 2 children and her immediate family, Marilyn has actively been involved with the arts as a teacher, consultant and director at Wayne State University and Howard University. Marilyn served as a teacher and director in Detroit for 40 years at Cass Technical High School in the Performing Arts Department. Her productions there included: Dreamgirls, The Wiz, In the Heights, The Color Purple, West Side Story, and in her final year, a combined student and alumni production of AIDA. Marilyn is the recipient of the Excellence in Theatre Education Award, presented at the 2016 Tony Awards Ceremony, sponsored by Carnegie Mellon University. She is also the recipient of outstanding teacher, teacher of the year, Sankofa award, Michigan Educator Trailblazer award, and Spirit of Detroit awards.
Dominique Morisseau
Author of The Detroit Project (A 3-Play Cycle): Skeleton Crew (Atlantic Theater Company), Paradise Blue (Signature Theatre), and Detroit ’67 (Public Theater, Classical Theatre of Harlem and NBT). Additional plays include: Pipeline (Lincoln Center Theatre), Sunset Baby (LAByrinth Theatre); Blood at the Root (National Black Theatre), Follow Me To Nellie’s (Premiere Stages) and Ain’t Too Proud —The Life and Times of The Temptations (Berkeley Rep) She most recently served as Co-Producer on the Showtime series “Shameless.” Awards include: Spirit of Detroit Award, PoNY Fellowship, Sky-Cooper Prize, TEER Trailblazer Award, Steinberg Playwright Award, Audelco Awards, NBFT August Wilson Playwriting Award, Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama, OBIE Award (2), and the Ford Foundation Art of Change Fellowship. She was named one of Variety’s Women of Impact for 2017-18 and a recipient of the 2018 MacArthur Genius Grant.
Liesl Tommy
Award-winning international theater, film, and television director. Liesl is known for her development of exciting new works as well as her innovative interpretation of classics.She is currently directing RESPECT, the MGM feature film about Aretha Franklin, starring Jennifer Hudson. She is also on board to direct BORN A CRIME, based on Trevor Noah’s best-selling memoir. This Paramount Players project has Lupita Nyong’o attached to star. On the television front, Liesl has directed episodes of QUEEN SUGAR, INSECURE, THE WALKING DEAD, and MRS. FLETCHER. World premieres include Broadway’s ECLIPSED by Danai Gurira starring Lupita Nyong’o, for which Liesl became the first woman of color to be Tony-nominated for Best Direction of a Play and garnered another five nominations for the play. Liesl is also developing and directing the world premiere of the new musical THE OUTSIDERS, based on S.E. Hinton’s acclaimed novel, to premiere in 2020.

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