North Carolina Black Repertory Company

Broadway legend Chester Gregory leads this epic Motown bash. Get ready to groove as Chester performs your favorite classics from the Motown era like no other. Dive into his heartfelt stories of meeting and working with icons like Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, and the man who started it all, Berry Gordy. This isn’t just any show – it’s a full-on party packed with tunes that’ll have you dancing in your seat! You definitely don’t want to miss this explosion of tunes and tales. Light up your night with this unforgettable celebration! (Musical, General Audience)

Float Like a Butterfly Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, Sarasota, FL An homage to heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali, who took a stand against injustice. As an American icon, he proved he could “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” – far beyond the boxing ring. Written by Michael Jacobs. Directed by Nate Jacobs. Performed by Darius Autry. (Larry Leon Hamlin Solo Performance Series, General Audience) From Birmingham to Broadway Auntie Pat Productions, New York, NY A snapshot of Nell Carter’s career, demonstrating the determination this nontraditional Black woman possessed despite the odds against her. Faced with early tragedy, Carter’s refusal to give up on her dreams and her buoyant, larger-than-life onstage persona have left a lasting legacy. Written and performed by Tarra Conner Jones. Directed by Nate Jacobs. (Larry Leon Hamlin Solo Performance Series, General Audience)

In 1899, two Black horse jockeys (America’s first professional athletes) compete for the inaugural running of the Bluegrass Mile, which proves to be more than a race for prestige when the quest for truth becomes the ultimate prize. Written and directed by Mark Clayton Southers. (Drama, General Audience) 

Dissonance asks the question, “Can a Black woman and a White woman—who have been friends for 20 years—have an honest, open conversation about race?” Written and performed by Kerry Sandell and Marci J. Duncan. Directed by James Webb (Drama, General Audience) 

A young doctor faces moral turmoil when he discovers the horrific truths of the Tuskegee syphilis experiments. Through the lives of five unknowing participants, this haunting and heartbreaking play exposes the brutal truths behind this unethical study. An intense and powerful examination of right vs. wrong. Written and directed by Layon Gray, author of Cowboy. (Drama, General Audience) 

August Wilson’s American Century Cycle masterpiece King Hedley II begins with King planting seeds in dirt he’s been told where nothing can grow. Set in the 1980s, Wilson captures a world permeated by money, love, honor and retribution. As King insists on living by his own rules, the past smashes into the present. August Wilson expresses the collision with humor, and unparalleled eloquence. Dorian Missick guest stars. Written by August Wilson. Directed by Michele Shay. (IBTF Fringe Spotlight, Drama, Celebrity Performance) 

Love Warrior highlights that power of the human spirit to triumph over immeasurable trauma. Through intimate stories, poetry, song, dance, and multi-character transformation, Daniel Koa Beaty shares his journey to transform his pain to power, including a life-changing visit to the plantation where his great, great grandmother was enslaved, and his enstooling as a King in Ghana. Written and performed by Daniel Koa Beaty. Produced by LaChanze and Vanessa Williams. Directed by John Scutchins. (Celebrity Solo Performance, General Audience)

August Wilson paints a melodic tragic-comedy portrait depicting the complicated lives of an African-American friend group chasing dreams and grieving loss. Floyd, an aspiring blues musician finds himself at a crossroad of morality, love versus the dream. Directed by Autumn Carter. (Drama, IBTF Fringe, General Audience) 

Downsized attorney Frank Saunders attempts to sell the Hamptons summer home inherited by his wife, Deanna, and her brother, Ben, but Deanna refuses to sell. The dispute fractures the marriage, but a more serious threat to the property arises and forces the family to unite. Written by Charles L. White, author of Succession. (Drama, General Audience)