Black Ensemble Partner With The DuSable Museum For The Jackie Taylor Drama Series

The Black Ensemble Theater and The DuSable Museum of African American History announce The Jackie Taylor Drama Series, presented for nine performances, April 7-22, 2018, at The DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Place, Chicago, in the Illinois Black Legislators Auditorium.

Tickets are $35 and can be purchased online at www.blackensemble.org or by phone at (773) 769-4451.

The Jackie Taylor Drama Series is a partnership between two legendary Chicago institutions-Black Ensemble Theater and The DuSable Museum of African American History. Consisting of three dramatic plays written by members of Black Ensemble Theater's Black Playwrights Initiative (BPI), an educational incubator for aspiring Black playwrights, The Jackie Taylor Drama Series will feature works that are relevant to current events and speak to the demise of recent racial equity issues.

Plays and performances for The Jackie Taylor Drama Series include:

National Anthem

by Ervin Gardner

directed by Jackie Taylor

April 7 and 8, 2018 (Saturday, April 7 at 3pm & 8pm and Sunday, April 8 at 3pm)

Written by Ervin Gardner, this one act play speaks to the controversy surrounding professional athletes and their right to peacefully protest.

The Plea

by Reginald Williams

directed by Daryl D. Brooks

featuring Jackie Taylor

April 14 and 15, 2018 (Saturday, April 14 at 3pm & 8pm and Sunday, April 15 at 3pm)

The Plea, by Reginald Williams, addresses the violence epidemic that has engulfed so many Chicago communities resulting in senseless murders, the hopelessness and traumatic mental anguish that has consumed our neighborhoods.

In The Shadow of Justice

by L. Maceo Ferris

directed by Rueben D. Echoles

April 21 and 22, 2018 (Saturday, April 21 at 3pm & 8pm and Sunday, April 22 at 3pm)

In this drama, L. Maceo Ferris intoxicating play depicts how two young Black police detectives, one woman and one man, are forced to face corruption, brutality and murder in a South Side Chicago police precinct where they have been assigned. Will they accept business as usual or care enough to try and change a racist status quo?

All performances will be followed by a discussion pertaining to the issues presented in each play led by the actors and the playwrights.

WVON is the official radio sponsor for The Jackie Taylor Drama Series.

For more information about The Jackie Taylor Drama Series or to purchase tickets visit at www.blackensemble.org, or call (773) 769-4451.

About The DuSable Museum of African American History

The DuSable Museum of African American History is one of the oldest institutions of its kind in the country. Our mission is to promote understanding and inspire appreciation of the achievements, contributions and experiences of African Americans through exhibits, programs and activities that illustrate African and African American history, culture and art. The DuSable Museum is a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate. For more information on the Museum and its programs, please call (773) 947-0600 or visit us at www.dusablemuseum.org. The DuSable Museum of African American History gratefully acknowledges the Chicago Park District's partnership and also thanks United Airlines, the official airline of the DuSable Museum for its support.

The Black Ensemble Theater

Founded in 1976, by the phenomenal producer, playwright and actress Jackie Taylor, Black Ensemble Theater is the only African American theater located in the culturally, racially and ethnically diverse north side Uptown community. Through its Five Play Season of Excellence, The Black Ensemble Theater dazzles audiences locally, nationally and internationally with outstanding original musicals that are entertaining, educational and uplifting. The Black Ensemble Theater has produced more than 100 productions and employed over 5,000 artists.

On November 18, 2011, The Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center 300 seat theater opened and is able to accommodate larger-scale productions, bigger audiences and a wider range of educational programming. The completion of an additional 150-seat theater inside of the BE Cultural Center will serve as an experimental stage for the work of the Black Playwright Initiative (BPI) is scheduled to be completed in 2018/19.

The mission of the Black Ensemble Theater Company is to eradicate racism and its devastating effects upon society through the theater arts. For more information on the Black Ensemble Theater Company, please visit www.BlackEnsembleTheater.org or call 773-769-4451.

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