Don’t miss the most inspiring weekend of the year!
Atlanta Black Theatre Festival:
Art enthusiasts can experience live bold performances and innovative storytelling, along with a Black Art & Business Expo.
Creative Arts Conference:
Creative culture lovers can experience inspiring workshops, staged readings, film screenings, panels, and networking.
Schedule of Events:
11am - 8pm: Black Art & Business Expo
Join us for the best curated selection of fine and wearable art. Admission is free. Register to win a free gift!
11am: The Turtle Races the Rabbit by by George Tooks and Ed Tooks (LENGA Tooks)
The Turtle Races the Rabbit by George Tooks and Ed Tooks (LENGA Tooks) Directed by Kim Tooks.
A Fun and Heartwarming Play for Young Audiences!
Join us for a lively, humorous story inspired by African and Native American folk tales! When the slow and wise Turtle challenges the boastful Rabbit to a race, hilarious surprises and valuable lessons unfold. With colorful characters like the Bear, Elephant, Zebra, and Snake, plus a wise Snail narrator, this play celebrates patience, humility, and the importance of kindness.
Come cheer for the slow and steady hero — because sometimes, winning isn’t about speed!
Featuring original music by award-winning composers George Arnold and Lawrence Tooks, directed by Kim Tooks.
Extrasensory Elements: Highly engaging, audience participation is designed to enhance the experience and inspire youth. (Appropriate and fun for all ages.)
1pm: Two Old Black Guys Just Sitting Around Talking by Gus Edwards
Talking is a theatre classic by Gus Edwards. It is a hilarious, heartfelt 90-minute journey into friendship, love, and aging. Meet Henry, the calm and wise one, and Abe, his crotchety, quick-witted "friend". Their sharp banter and stories about decades of life—love triangles, divergent paths, and shared memories—will make you laugh, nod, and maybe even tear up.
This play is a must-see for anyone who loves great storytelling, humor, and the power of human connection. Don’t miss it—come sit with these characters and experience life’s stories firsthand. Directed by ABTF award-winning Keith Franklin, this one is sure to stay with you long after the curtain falls.
Gus Edwards is an Afro-Caribbean dramatist and writer. His plays have been produced by Negro Ensemble Company of New York and throughout the United States. He is also a director and educator. He has written several books addressing the concerns of African American theatre and is a tenured faculty member of Arizona State University’s theatre department, where he teaches film and theatre studies.
Extrasensory Elements: Witty Humor, Swearing and Strong Language, Mature Themes ((age-appropriate 16+, under age 14 not permitted).
3pm: The Prior 55 by Andrea J. Fulton
The Prior 55 by Andrea J. Fulton explores the power of vulnerability, the weight of history, and the possibility of redemption when two souls meet at life’s most unexpected crossroads.
In this 2024 Anthem Award-winning play by Andrea J. Fulton, Mahala leaves behind a successful career in New Orleans to become a psychiatric nurse on a mission: to help homeless individuals find housing by connecting on a deeper, soul-baring level. Haunted by her past and driven by a desire for genuine connection, she seeks to confront her own truths while aiding Red Man Blue, a 50-60-year-old homeless singer whose contradictions—gentle yet fierce, reflective yet direct—mask a profound inner world.
Extrasensory Elements: Intense Drama, Use of Gun Props, Suicidal Ideologies, Adult Themes (Appropriate for 16+, under age 14 not permitted)
5pm: Chicken Stories by Marcus Folmar
Chicken Stories by Marc Folmar: A Play That Will Make You Laugh, Think, and Crave More
Step into a world where a chicken becomes the unlikely lens on today’s culture, history, and human connection. Chicken Stories is a hilarious and surprisingly poignant journey that explores love, loss, legacy, and identity, all through sharp humor and vivid storytelling. Nine captivating vignettes of life in just 70 fast-paced minutes, revealing the humor and heart behind everyday struggles.
Don’t miss this bold, thought-provoking play that will leave you laughing—and questioning what’s really on your plate.
Extrasensory Elements: Historical-themed comedy with strong language, appropriate for general audiences (age-appropriate 12+, under age five not permitted).
Written and Produced by Marc Folmar (Los Angeles, CA)
7pm: Summer Breeze by Mary McCallum
Summer Breeze is a heartfelt story of a family's resilience and renewal set against the backdrop of a changing America.
Summer Breeze, by the multiple award-winning playwright Mary McCallum, transports you to the vibrant seaside shores of 1969, where family secrets, racial tensions, and dreams collide at Rose Mason’s African-American resort.
Amidst lively beach parties, heart-wrenching conversations, and moments of crisis, this story of resilience and renewal is set against the backdrop of a changing America. This heartfelt play promises warmth, drama, and inspiration.
Extrasensory Elements: This historically themed drama includes some discussion about PTSD and is appropriate for general audiences (age-appropriate 12+, under age five not permitted).
Location: Spelman College's LaTanya Richardson Jackson & Samuel L. Jackson Performing Arts Center
