The West Philly-based Black theatre company, Theatre in the X, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this month by presenting Zooman and the Sign, a rarely-staged work by the legendary late Philadelphia-born playwright Charles Fuller. The performances will be offered to audiences for free at Malcolm X Park from August 17-20.

In the play set in Southwest Philadelphia in 1979, Zooman senselessly terrorizes his community. When he kills a 12-year-old Black girl on the street, all witnesses refuse to talk. Bereaved and infuriated, the dead girl’s father posts a sign accusing the entire community of cowardice in the face of escalating violence. The play was first presented off-Broadway by Negro Ensemble Company at Theater Four in New York City on December 7, 1980.

Theatre in the X company members said they feel that their play is relevant to the issues of community violence currently taking place throughout the city.

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West Philly’s Theatre in the X is partnering with Drexel University to present their new production Pac and Biggie Are Dead at Drexel’s Mandell Theater. The play, written by Biko Eisen-Martin, is a spin-off of Tom Stoppard’s classic, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, starring rap’s two iconic artists. Theatre in the X’s production, directed by Carlo Campbell, presents classic moments in hip hop, drama, and Black history.

Playwright Biko Eisen-Martin explains that the play “draws from the ethos of hip hop, African cosmology, and western staples of theatre.”

Pac is played by Joseph (Ankh Fyre) Xavier-Mack, and Nazeer Harper is cast as Biggie. Other cast members include: Richard Bradford, Abe Kaplan, Bryce Zenon, Matthew Lacy, Wendi Smith, Monet Debose, Rodd Dean, and Nieemah Powers. Continue Reading

Theatre in the X is back at Malcolm X. Park (5100 Pine St.) with the opening of celebrated musical Dreamgirls on Thursday, Aug. 18, at 7 p.m.

Based on the show business aspirations and successes of R&B acts such as The Supremes, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and others, the musical follows the story of a young female singing trio “The Dreams,” who become music superstars.

The city’s Black theater company will stage four performances this year, including another 7 p.m. show on Aug. 19 and Saturday and Sunday performances (Aug. 20-21) beginning at 5 p.m. Admission, as always, is free. Just bring a chair or a blanket or whatever you want to sit on.

Dreamgirls is based on the Broadway hit by playwright Tom Eyden and composer Henry Krieger first staged in 1981. The play was adapted as 2006 film that starred Beyoncé, Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy, and also features Jennifer Hudson and Danny Glover.

West Philly native Ozzie Jones is directing the production and Sanchel Brown is choreographer. Will Brock will provide music direction and original compositions. Continue Reading

Carlo Campbell as Richard III (photo by Stephen Hudgins).

Curio Theatre’s space at 48th and Baltimore will be home to a new production by Theatre in the X, the local Black theatre company known for their summer shows in West Philly’s Malcolm X Park. Beginning Thursday, April 28, Theatre in the X will present their take on William Shakespeare’s famous play Richard III.

Theatre in the X’s interpretation of Richard III is an homage to The African Grove Theatre – the first Black Theatre company in the recorded history of North America.

“This company, founded 44 years before the abolition of slavery, at a time when few blacks were literate (because it was illegal) took on this Shakespearean language, and the powers that be, and triumphed, in their own way,” reads a statement on the Theatre in the X website. “They laid the track for us and through their work and now with this production of Richard III, we honor them.​” Continue Reading

Curio Theatre Company, whose productions have been put on hold since Spring 2020, has announced plans for the rest of the 2021-2022 season. Curio will resume live in-person theatre in their black box space at 48th and Baltimore, in the Calvary Center for Culture and Community. Work is currently underway to bring Lanie Robertson’s critically acclaimed play, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, starring beloved company member and Barrymore award winner Ebony Pullum. The play explores the life of legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday during one of her final performances in Philadelphia. Continue Reading

Theatre in the X is returning to Malcolm X Park after a year hiatus and will present three evenings of a new production, The West Philly Meeting. The new play by the innovative Black theater troupe was created with the West Philly community in mind and is based on the community input.

The process began in early 2020 with in-person West Philly community meetings that helped devise the new theatre piece. Two significant and tragic historic events are the basis for the new play – the 1985 MOVE bombing and summer 2020 protests and teargassing of protesters by the police on 52nd street, according to an article by The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The new piece, written by Dwayne Alistair Thomas and directed by Katrina Snobe, brings the characters and the audience together to find “the solution to heal what ails them.” Continue Reading