National Black Theatre Festival Will Draw Thousands To Winston-Salem

The National Black Theatre Festival kicks off  Monday in Winston-Salem.

N.C. Black Repertory Company produces the festival every two years. The week-long event is expected to attract more than 60,000 people and dozens of celebrities.

“We have celebrity performances including Rain Pryor, the daughter of Richard Pryor. We have Vanessa Bell Calloway. We have Jackee Harry, her first time at the festival. We also have Melba Moore and the list goes on and on,” says McLaughlin. “What these celebrities do every two years is say we not only want to support the Black Theatre Festival, but we want to support our roots where we came from.”

Besides plays, several community workshops and short films are also part of the festivities. Organizers say ticket sales are up by 50 percent compared to the same time two years ago.

“We have shows sold out right now that has never happened this early on. We are going to feature 140 performances from 30 plus theater companies from around the world and country, including South Africa.  These performances are performed in venues all across the city,” says McLaughlin.  

The event runs through August 8.

During an opening night gala Monday night, the festival will honor the late Dr. Maya Angelou. She was the festival's first co-chair in 1989.  A ribbon cutting for a new museum and hall of fame to celebrate the festival's history, will take place on Tuesday.

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