Adrienne D. Williams is Harlem born storyteller. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Blackstone River Theatre is located at 549 Broad Street, Cumberland, R.I. (401) 725-9272 And, a bucket load of kudos goes to his widow, Lady Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin. The show was written and directed by Daryl Brooks, who staged solo memories of the Young Josephine Baker, Mahalia Jackson, Etta James, Donna Summers, Janis Joplin and others. Other articles about the 2019 Black Theatre Festival on Berkshire Fine Arts have been written by: The opinions expressed are those of individual authors who are solely responsible for their statements and as such are not those of the staff and management of Berkshire Fine Arts or its affiliates. Because its a student production, I wont review it. Each day will begin with the National Black Theatres Stage for Healing and Resilience, co-produced by The Public Theater and National Black Theatre in continuation of a relationship that dates back to the 1960s. The colorful and snazzy costumes and slick choreography add to the quality of the production, created and directed by Nate Jacobs. Its theme was "An International Celebration and Reunion of Spirit". You will see a "sea" of exuberant attendees who have traveled from near and far to celebrate Black theaterat its very best. As the recipients of the Stckemarkt Commission of Work, we are currently developing a new piece for Schauspiel Dortmunds 2022/23 season. 3) The top of one mountain is the bottom of the next, so keep climbing! Later that evening, the stars continued to shine bright at the formal gala, held at the Benton Convention Center. Established in 1989, the festival is a lifelong dream and manifestation of its founder, Larry Leon Hamlin, a.k,a. Make sure you pack black-tie attire because there will be a gala awards ceremony on opening night. The original music and arrangements ofDreaming Zenzilewere made possible through theFrench American Jazz Exchange, a joint program ofFACE FoundationandMid Atlantic Arts Foundationwith generous funding fromCultural Services of the French Embassy,Doris Duke Charitable Foundation,SACEM,Institut Franaisand theMinistere de la Culture et de la Communication. Please subscribe to keep reading. These young protesters played their part in moving the Civil Rights agenda forward. Inspired by a true story, RETREATS concrete walls and barbed wire fencing infest the prison of our minds, of our reactive life choices, and our inability to live free. Vickie is the president of the independent theater company, Soaring High Productions and is the CEO of the nonprofit theater advocacy organization, Performing Arts and Literary Society (PALS). Hall is earnest in his characterization of Washington, but his style and many of his transitions are erratic. Posted: Jul 29, 2019 / 07:57 PM EDT. Thousands of people passed the casket and it became another building block in the Civil Rights Struggle. She is truly the nucleus that keeps this well-oiled machine running. Andre gave the press conference attendees a fourth phrase of his formula for success in addition to the three he gave during his Tony acceptance speech: "1) Surround yourself with people who eyes light up when they see you coming! RSVP & Get Reminders on Facebook. The National Black Theatre Festival is a one-of-a-kind experience that's not to be missed when it returns to Winston-Salem in 2021. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}360556N 801455W / 36.09875N 80.24863W / 36.09875; -80.24863. Photos: 2019 National Black Theatre Festival's Opening Night Gala. Some of the honorees for the evening was as mentioned before, Ms. Leslie Uggams (Sidney Poiter Lifelong Achievement Award), Art Evans (Living Legend Award), and Pearl Cleage (August Wilson Playwright Award). The soul-stirring production includes a live jazz band playing original music and reinterpretations of Makebas remarkable catalog. She received her M.F.A from the University of Louisville and her bachelor's in theatre from Tennessee State University. TV: Inventing Anna (Netflix). Amanda's Freelance directorial work has toured to London, Edinburgh, Canada and the National Black Theatre Festival in North Carolina, USA Amanda served as Co-Artistic Director of Hidden Gems with Marcia Layne a Black Female led Theatre company based in the North of England from 2009 - 2014. . So proud to be a African American who loves the Performing Arts. Shanee Karriem, of Otesha Creative Arts Ensemble, performs during the National Black Theatre Festival's opening night gala on Monday, July 29, 2019, at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. Leslie Uggams, speaks after receiving the Sidney Poitier Lifelong Achievement Award during the National Black Theatre Festival's opening night gala on Monday, July 29, 2019, at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. Corey McIlwaine (center), director with Carver High School's marching band, plays the sousaphone with Carlton Davis (front), assistant director, and student Tre Flectcher during the National Black Theatre Festival's opening night gala on Monday, July 29, 2019, at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. Michael Colyar dancers with the performers during the National Black Theatre Festival's opening night gala on Monday, July 29, 2019, at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. Margaret Avery and Chester Gregory, celebrity co-chairs, during the National Black Theatre Festival's opening night gala on Monday, July 29, 2019, at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. Jashon Hampton, a recent graduate from Carver High School, plays with the marching band during the National Black Theatre Festival's opening night gala on Monday, July 29, 2019, at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. D.D. The Japanese Army forced young women, from occupied countries, Korea, China and Indonesia into sex slavery as so called Comfort Women. These crimes lasted from 1931 to 1945, where an estimated 200,000-400,000 women became forced prostitutes. Hall tells Washingtons story from childhood through his distinguished public life. on the Internet. Recognized by AARP as an Age Disruptor, I have an ageism-busting TEDx Talk and an age-affirming solo show which broke a 30-year box office record at the 2019 National Black Theatre Festival in . Monroe Auditorium on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory. One of the aspects of the festival that impressed me the most is the community support given by the city and citizens of Winston-Salem. on March 10, 2019, 2019 National Black theatre festival Kickoff Press Conference and announcement of the celebrity Co-Chairs, There are no reviews yet. Ann was 15 when she died and Emmett was just 14. High School and College students were trained for weeks in non-violent resistance before they were ready to protest the lack of integration in Birmingham schools. Uploaded by I do have some quibbles with the script, which is quite basic in some ways (such as when Anne and Emmett try to top each other by naming famous Jewish and black achievers). He vigorously opposed the disenfranchisement of blacks and the Jim Crow laws that were passed after Reconstruction. The festival is produced every two years in Winston by the North Carolina Black Repertory Company, a 40-year-old theater company founded in 1979 by the late Larry Leon Hamlin, whose memory we observed in a moment of silence before each performance. So, if youre interested in attending and would like the full experience, make sure you make arrangements to be there for about a week. NBTF is "taking over" the city of Winston-Salem, North Carolina this entire week, July 29-August 3. A room is dedicated to Emmett Tills life and death at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, in Washington, D.C. Contact UsDonatePrivacyCareersSite Credits. According to The New York Times, The 1989 National Black Theatre Festival was one of the most historic and culturally significant events in the history of black theatre and American theatre in general. Over 10,000 people attended the inaugural event. Originally created and curated by The New Black Fest under the artistic direction of Keith Josef Adkins, Hands Up is a response to the police shootings of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri among other young Black men and women over the years, including Trayvon Martin, Sandra Bland, Tamir Rice and more. These questions and more are examined by playwright Nissy Aya, poets Mahogany L. Browne and Diane Exavier, vocalist and librettist Joshua Banbury, and performance artist Nia Farrell. Here are some things you should know: NBTF is six consecutive days of professional theatre, the only festival of its kind in the United States. While Children's Theatre of Charlotte continues to celebrate its 75th season, it recognizes that 75 years ago, this past August, India was split into two countries: India and Pakistan. FAT HAM is a delectable comic tragedy directed by The Publics Associate Artistic Director Saheem Ali. Haywood Arts Regional Theatre (5/19-6/11), Haywood Arts Regional Theatre (8/25-9/17), Blumenthal Performing Arts Center: Belk Theater (6/06-6/11), Blumenthal Performing Arts Center: Belk Theater (5/30-6/04), Blumenthal Performing Arts Center: Belk Theater (3/28-4/02), Thalian Hall Center For The Perform (6/22-7/02), Blumenthal Performing Arts Center: Belk Theater (3/24-3/26), Blumenthal Performing Arts Center: Belk Theater (7/25-7/30), Children's Theatre of Charlotte Presents THE NIGHT DIARY, Western Piedmont Symphony Presents MASTERWORKS- MIGHTY MAHLER. The festival was planned for Aug. 2-7 this summer, but will be rescheduled for Aug. 1-6, 2022, the North Carolina Black Repertory Company announced Tuesday. I am glad to be a part of this giant entertainment mogul, we call "The Performing Arts". This season is reflective of our listening and desire to produce unique and diverse offerings that lean into art as a healing tool to anchor our resilience. Despite that caveat, Anne and Emmett is a stirring and interesting story. Sound artists and composers Mendi + Keith Obadike engage in a virtual conversation on their musical satelliteRingShout, screen a companion video work, and discuss their music, art, and literature collaborations. Dina Vovsis direction guides Abrams strong acting. Many of those I chatted with were attending the festival for the fourth, fifth or sixth time. Please email info@nationalblacktheatre.org with any questions. Ross recently made her Broadway debut in the Tony nominated revival of For Colored Girls. Yes , Ruined, is a play worth seeing, no matter who will produce it in the future. She would like to extend her gratitude to Tylie Shider, the NBT production team and cast, Sujotta Pace, and Hudson Artists Agency. The National Black Theatre Festival will stage plays, have poetry readings, screen films and hold workshops frmo July 29 to Aug. 3 in Winston-Salem. She is also a tenured Teaching Artist with the New Victory Theater and has facilitated arts workshops with the Kennedy Center, the DC Commision on the Arts & Humanities, Broadway Advocacy Coalition, New York City Department of Correction, and survivors of human trafficking and their families. Website Design and maintenance by BerkSites [-] Berkshire Website Design, "Astrid, your mater-of-fact description of what you experienced was enough to cause me a bit of regret, tinged with envy, at having missed what sounded like a terrific, moving experience. The North Carolina Black Repertory Co. is supported by the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources and the Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County in our City of Arts and Innovation. The celebrity co-hosts of this year's festival is Margaret "Sug" Avery (The Color Purple) and Chester Gregory (The Jackie Wilson Story). A limited number of after-festival session tickets will be sold on site, day of festival. Along with them was a small contingent of American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA) members to. 2) Slowly is the fastest way to get to where you want to be! None of this would have been possible without the visionary, the late Larry Leon Hamlin, who started the festival in 1989. I spent much of the week in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, attending the week-long 16th biennial National Black Theatre Festival, which presented 30 plays and musicals from black theaters in 16 states and South Africa.. Stars of the stage, many of whom are also stars of TV and film, gathered under one roof and declared Winston-Salem "Black Theater Holy Ground.". More info to come soon! Gabrielle Lee, here Ada Bricktop Smith, performed beautifully more than 20 songs as part of Bricktops storied life as an expatriate in Paris, Mexico City, and Rome. The 16th biennial National Black Theatre Festival (NBTF) has come to an end. Her audience was very responsive. Wendell Jordan has a BFA from Howard University & has been an active member of SAG/ AFTRA for 20+ years. But this dinner brought a storm of vicious criticism, especially by Southern politicians and newspapers. Working on such shows as HBOs The Wire, NBCs Homicide, ABCs Golden Boy, & CBSs Person of Interest, & Blue Bloods. Most recent Theatre credits include the role of Mister, from The Color Purple, at the Riverside Center For the Performing Arts, Amonasro, from Aida, at the Source Theatre Constellation Theatre Company, In addition to Ton Ton Julian, from Once On This Island, at Olney Theatre Center. Wendell would like to dedicate his performance to his sun Fate Jordan. She would like to thank NBT for this beautiful collaboration. % The 2019 NBTF was held July 29-August 3, 2019, with celebrity co-chairs Margaret Avery and Chester Gregory. Join us for a live conversation with ChelseaDee Harrison and Ta-Nia (Talia Paulette Oliveras and Nia Farrell) moderated by NBTs Executive Artistic Director Jonathan McCrory. The National Black Theatre Festival (NBTF) is a biennial festival celebrating African American contributions to culture. We invite you to journey beyond the stage and view our Dramaturgical Exhibition entitled, Love, A Ritual of Repair! The play introduces Anne Frank (played by Hannah Church) and her story of the Holocaust in scenes alternating with the story of Emmett Till (Enoch King), the Chicago boy murdered in Mississippi. 8:00 PM. Angelou served as the Festival's first chairperson, and other prominent African-American performers lent their professional and financial support. Notes and references [ edit] ^ "National Black Theatre Festival History Page". If youre a filmmaker, an actor, playwright, etc., you can submit your play for the festival. This year marked NBTF's thirtieth. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. John Hauser It lived up to its theme: An International Celebration and Reunion of Spirit. http://www.adriennedwilliams.com. Serving as its executive director, Hamlins goal in creating the Festival was "to unite black theatre companies in America to ensure the survival of the genre into the next millennium. Kala believes that if you match your hard work with your faith, any dream is possible. 2019 National Black Theatre Festival July 29 - August 3 An International Celebration & Reunion of Spirit Micki Grant 1989 2022 Hours of Operation. Under the direction of Lileana Blain-Cruz and choreographed byMarjani Fort-Saunders, the rolling world premiere production of Dreaming Zenzile will bring together seven producers including Octopus Theatricals, National Black Theatre, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, McCarter Theatre Center, Arts Emerson, Apollo Theater and New York Theatre Workshop. Updated: Jul 29, 2019 / 07:57 PM EDT That's exactly how the opening day of the National Black. While both were about interesting historical characters, the Mary Mcleod Bethune production is far superior as theater. (A most impressive Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, headquarters of the Arts Council of Winston-Salem, houses three theaters.). Born in 1856Virginia, he was the last generation born into slavery. It lived up to its theme: An International Celebration and Reunion of Spirit. The 2022 NBTF will be held August 1-6, 2022, with celebrity co-chairs Lisa Arrindell and Petri Hawkins-Byrd. A production of a Pulitzer Prize drama by Lynn Nottage. Truly, this is Black Theatre Holy Ground. I remember growing up in post war Germany with the knowledge, that particularly young women were hidden or tried to look ugly by smearing their faces and bodies with dirt and wearing dirty clothes in order to avoid attacks from passing soldiers and armies. Youth talent is also encouraged to participate. Marcellus can be found hosting weekly at a local Burlesque and live music restaurant Duane Park Amongst singing all New York City, directing showcases, tap dancing, acting, and serving as a vocal coach, Aaron is Founder and Creative Director of The Marcellus Collective and CEO of Surrender To Love LLC; a foundation that finically supports music & arts programs and feeds hungry bellies. Grounded in the dynamic legacy of Shirley Chisholm, this digital series features micro-commissions from Ngozi Anyanwu, Hope Boykin, Mahogany L. Browne, Dane Figueroa Edidi, Candice Hoyes, Val Jeanty, and Dianne Smith. Who gets exonerated? The Greenbrier Valley Theatre of Lewisburg, West Virginia, was invited to introduce Bricktop: Legend of the Jazz Age, a one woman show. Broadway: Macbeth. As a writer and director, her film Chante Maman Mwen (My Mother's Song) most recently was honored at the Urbanworl We are currently working remotely with a reduced staff due to COVID-19. For the safety of our audiences and staff, all ticketholders and attendees of this event must provide proof of vaccination in order to enter the theater. The highlight of the press conference was seeing Andre De Shields, who is celebrating 50 years in theater and is the 2019 Tony Award winner for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for his role as Hermes in Hadestown. stream More than 50 celebrities can be expected to attend the Festival during its run. Many of the lyrics were hard to understand, even for songs that were very familiar. <> As is customary, the gala opened with a parade of stars, preceded by the beating of African drums, the rhythm of African dancers, and an African dancer of stilts. After placing Top 24 on American Idol he was sent on a world tour sponsored by the US Armed Forces, where he performed for thousands in England, Italy, Holland, Germany, France, Korea, Kuwait and Japan. And I would be remiss if I didn't mention the volunteers who eagerly shared hospitality and devoted countless hours to make this enormous event a success. Her latest performances were with Harlem9 and 54 Below. A moving conversation between Anne (Frank) and Emmett (Till), somewhere in memory. Chartered/Metro buses transported theater-goers to the various event locations making it convenient to enjoy the moment without worrying about how to get there. Abroad, Ta-Nias work was presented at Theatretreffens Stckemarkt 2021 and Das Hessische Landestheater Marburgs Das Stck Zur Zeit 2022. The lively panel was made up of Sprinkle-Hamlin and four NCBRC staff members. Juicy is a queer, Southern college kid, already grappling with some serious questions of identity, when the ghost of his father shows up in their backyard, demanding that Juicy avenge his murder. ", * Email address required for verification and does not appear with comments. Aaron has been featured in a Chapstick commercial, NBCs Next Caller and is a veteran member of New York Citys Off-Broadway hit Stomp also supporting lead in National Black Theatres production of Dreaming Zenzile. Stewart is an AMDA alumni with Broadway credits including: The Color Purple revival, Tina the Tina Turner Musical. Contact UsDonatePrivacyCareersSite Credits, Walk with Little Amal & The Sounds of Harlem, NBT@Home presents A Ritual of Repair Panel Discussion, The Gathering: A COLLECTIVE Sonic Ring Shout. The next National Black Theatre Festival will be in midsummer 2021. National Black Theatre is partnered with the New York Philharmonic to bring NY Phil Bandwagon 2 to Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem. 2 0 obj The National Black Theatre Festival is returning to Winston-Salem this summer after a pandemic hiatus. Co-Presented by the American Composers Orchestra and the Apollo Theater, In Partnership with Gateways Music Festival and Harlem Chamber Players, Creative Concept and Direction by Jonathan McCrory. She attended a seminary on scholarship and then attended what is now Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. The Movement is an educational experience based on The Childrens Crusade of 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama. Anne and Emmettis staged in a contemporary way with stirring sound design and projections that aid in the storytelling. National Black Theatre is partnered with the New York Philharmonic to bring NY Phil Bandwagon 2 to Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem. WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin, who succeeded her late husband as board chairman and executive producer of the National Black Theatre Festival, has died. There was a problem saving your notification. (Comments may not show up immediately), Back There she was, as she put it, a saloon-keeper: Chez Bricktop, and invited the biggest American performers, musicians, singers and acts from the 1920s to 1960s. Anne and Emnett Image courtesy Langhart Productions. I am excited about the rest of the week festivities that include stage readings - one being a world premiere of the upcoming production, Maya, by Nambi E. Kelley, theater industry workshops, film showings, youth activities/showcases, spoken word, Broadway-style playsand so much more. 2019 National Black Theatre Festival July 29 - August 3 An International Celebration & Reunion of Spirit Danny Glover Emmett was lynched by two brothers after allegedly offending a white woman in Money, Mississippi, in 1955. Another "well done" affairI tip my hat to Queen Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin and everyone involved in making this production a huge success. Drawn to the wonderment and joyful vibration, Amal will be led through the streets of Harlem down 126th Street to the entrance of Marcus Garvey Park on 120th Street. 2019 National Black Theatre Festival. Many thanks to agents at HCKR IG:@mzzzruth @Nutchocheese James 1:17, Charles E. Wallace, is excited to, finally, be working at The National Black Theatre after being neighbors for over twenty years. The upcoming 2021/2022 season includes 3 New York Premieres and 2 brand new digital commissions! Now, in its 16th season, the festival returns to Winston-Salem aka the black theatre holy ground with this years co-chairs veteran actress Margaret Shug Avery and Broadway sensation Chester Gregory. We sat in the grand auditorium of the Richard J. Reynolds High School, built in 1923, with beautiful Moravian-style carved wooden ornament surrounding the stage. Whose appeal is heard? View Event Retreat Thu, Nov 19, 2020 Sun, Nov 22, 2020 Google Calendar ICS When justice fails us, we all do time. Tylie Shider is a 2019-20 Playwrights' Center Jerome Fellow. Walk with National Black Theatre on Monday, September 26 at 3pm in our celebration processional beginning at the State Office Building at 125th and Adam Clayton Powell as we show Amal the unforgettable pulse of our vibrant community of Harlem! She formed the Educational and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls in Daytona, Fla. Later she had a distinguished public life. It was covered by both the national and international media with wide acclaim. 2007. They share their life-stories in earnest and occasionally in lighthearted dialogues and banter, until we see the murder scene of Emmett - just heartbreaking minutes! Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse - Lincoln Center NYC$25 General Admission. "[1] Held biennially since 1989 for six days, the NBTF showcases the best in African-American theater. A rousing concert tribute to soul music. The 16th biennial National Black Theatre Festival (NBTF) has come to an end. She wanted to be a missionary but was told black missionaries were not needed, so she decided she would take it as her own mission to educate black girls. Additionally, Mr. Wallace was honored to play Roy Wilkins in All the Way at The Denver Theatre Center and Cleveland Playhouse and the role of Davenport in The Arkansas Repertory Theatres production of A Soldier's Play. Awards: Drama Desk from Delaware State University and The Theater Projects One-Act competition 2015 Best Play and Audience Favorite. Volunteers are widely considered the most vital piece of the National Black Theatre Festival. And who chooses solitary confinement? The North Carolina A&T State University presented Ruined, a powerful and demanding play by Lynn Nottage. Those were the productions that I saw last week during the Winston-Salem, NC National Black Theatre Festival. What a spectacular week of plays, readings, short films, spoken word poetry, a gala, and a parade of starstruly the crme of the crop of theatre festivals. Whats different is Juicy himself, a sensitive and self-aware young Black man trying to break the cycles of trauma and violence in service of his own liberation. This new evening-length work, co-commissioned by the Apollo Theatre, brings the ancestral tradition of the Ring Shout into a contemporary context, taking audiences on a sonic quest rooted in the ritual tradition with a diverse array of contemporary multidisciplinary artists. Member: Dramatist Guild of America. (read more about this author), Jinkx Monsoon Announces 'Everything at Stake' Tour Dates, Photos: Meet The Cast Of POTUS At Charlotte Conservatory Theatre, Review: BRUCH VIOLIN CONCERTO at Charlotte Symphony, 2023 BIPOC Playwrights' Festival Now Accepting New and Original Works. Over the years, black arts and theater celebrities who have provided professional and financial support have included August Wilson, Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, Pearl Cleage, Savion Glover and Leslie Uggams. Adams, a member of the Winston-Salem city council, makes an entrance during the National Black Theatre Festival's opening night gala on Monday, July 29, 2019, at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. A drummer performs during the National Black Theatre Festival's opening night gala on Monday, July 29, 2019, at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. Hattie Winston speaks during the National Black Theatre Festival's opening night gala on Monday, July 29, 2019, at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. A dancer performs during the National Black Theatre Festival's opening night gala on Monday, July 29, 2019, at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. National Black Theatre Festival. Sunday, October 8, 2023; 10a-10p You can reserve your tickets here. The black audience came then and now from many States and coast-to-coast. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Anchored by an 80-member orchestra and a 50-voice choir composed of both professional and amateur singers from multiple African American churches and choral ensembles in New York, this not-to-be-missed event features new musical works including New York premieres by Carlos Simon and Joel Thompson paired with new commissions from Toshi Reagon, Jason Michael Webb, and Lelund Thompson created to honor our present need for a collective space of remembrance. Her mother, who bore 17 children, saved to buy land from her former owner and she and her family raised cotton. The United Nations, Security Council, passed UN Resolution 1820 in 2008. Ms. Uggams was a child star who later starred in her own television show, The Leslie Uggams Show, in 1969. 2019 Black Theatre & Arts Festival; a 15-day Multidisciplinary Arts Festival celebrating extraordinary stories by people of African descent.This year's festival has an exciting menu of more than 150 provocative and ground breaking performances, by local and national artists, writers, filmmakers and musicians.