THE BLACK VERSION Celebrates Black History Month With New York City Debut at Midnight Theatre

Direct from a sold-out run at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, The Black Version makes its New York City debut for Black History Month at Manhattan West's Midnight Theatre. Performances are on Friday, February 24 and Saturday, February 25, with performances at 7:00pm and 9:30pm. Runtime: 90 minutes, no intermission. No food/drink minimum. Tickets are on sale here.

This incredibly funny and groundbreaking improv show begins when the director asks the audience to suggest a popular film title and then the cast, right there on the spot, improvises the "Black version" of that film, complete with its improvised soundtrack, dance numbers, DVD extras, audition reels, and much more. The Black Version is a completely improvised show performing once a month at The Groundlings Theatre in Los Angeles.

The Black Version has performed to completely sold-out houses at The Groundlings Theatre after opening in the summer of 2010. They've performed at The Kennedy Center as well as several comedy festivals over the years including Netflix is a Joke Festival, the San Francisco SketchFest, Outside Lands Music Festival, and the Louisville Improv Festival to name a few.

The all-African-American cast of regulars includes show creator and namesake, Jordan Black (Community), Nyima Funk (Wild N' Out), Daniele Gaither (MadTV), Phil LaMarr (MadTV), Gary Anthony Williams (Boondocks), and Cedric Yarbrough (Reno 911) under the direction of Karen Maruyama (The Campaign), presented by Zach Laks Productions. Past guest performers include Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele of Key & Peele (former original cast members) along with special guest performers such as Tiffany Haddish, Wayne Brady, Niecey Nash, Jerry Minor (SNL), Maya Rudolph (SNL), and Angela V. Shelton (Frangela), among others who come and perform in the show from time to time. The cast has vast film and television credits ranging from Key & Peele, MadTV, Pulp Fiction, and SNL to Futurama, The Boondocks, Reno 911, and dozens more.

Midnight Theatre's dazzling 160-seat venue presents a diverse roster of programming, including talent from the Broadway stage, comedy, music, DJs and other unique special events. Coming up are The Midnight Theatre Football Club, The Moth Storyslam Open-Mic, Andrew Barth Feldman (Dear Evan Hansen)'s Barth Mitzvah Boy: An Evening Of Original Music, An Evening Of Channeling With Psychic Medium Craig McManus and more. Tickets for all events available here.

An escape from the everyday, Midnight Theatre is also a culinary destination. The venue's pan-Asian restaurant and bar inside Midnight Theatre, Hidden Leaf was created by chef/restaurateur Josh Cohen (Chez Ma Tante, Lilia, Saint Vitus). With a kitchen helmed by Chef Chai Trivedi (Pranna, Tamarind, Buddakan, Eventi Hotel), the romantic and playfully chic dining room serves polished, table-sharing, pan-Asian cuisine. Midnight Theatre's street level cocktail bar Midnight Cafe is also open, featuring a residency from the beloved Lower East Side Southeast Asian restaurant Essex Pearl, and offering a variety of seafood rolls (lobster, crab, shrimp and more) from 12pm-7pm along with a nightly Oyster Happy Hour from 4pm - 7pm.

Midnight Theatre is a new, intimate performance venue in the heart of New York's Manhattan West - Brookfield Properties' latest neighborhood development between 9th and 10th Avenues and West 31st and 33rd streets. The ever-evolving, 160-seat theater features unique experiences of magic, music, comedy, theater, and performance art. Inside the glamorous Midnight Theatre is an equally elegant and lively restaurant and bar, Hidden Leaf. Created by chef/restaurateur Josh Cohen (Chez Ma Tante, Lilia, Saint Vitus) and with a kitchen helmed by Chef Chai Trivedi (Pranna, Tamarind, Buddakan, Eventi Hotel), the romantic and playfully chic dining room serves polished, table-sharing, pan-Asian cuisine. Midnight Theatre's street level cocktail bar Midnight Cafe is also open, featuring a residency from the beloved Lower East Side Southeast Asian restaurant, Essex Pearl, and offering a variety of seafood rolls (lobster, crab, shrimp and more) from 12pm-7pm along with a nightly Oyster Happy Hour from 4pm - 7pm.

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