'48HOURS IN... HARLEM' to Celebrate First Anthology Launch at The Drama Book Shop

Six years after a group of virtual strangers assembled to form Harlem9 and present an annual event, "48HOURS IN... HARLEM" - a twist on the traditional 24-hour play festival - Harlem9, will celebrate their first anthology with a discussion and readings of two of the 12 plays in their first anthology at The Drama Book Shop. Refreshments will be served prior to the readings.

The evening will take place Friday, October 7, 2016 at 5pm. The event is free of charge and will include a chance to meet many of the actors, directors and playwrights involved from the 6 years and purchase copies through The Drama Book Shop.

Says Keith Josef Adkins, Inaugural playwright and Artistic Director of New Black Fest, who's play will be read on the evening of the 7th at The Drama Book Shop, "48Hours in...Harlem was one of the most challenging, thrilling, community-inspired theater events in New York City theater. We came together as black theater makers, we collaborated, we made and told story and we celebrated each other. No other event like it."

To learn more about each year's ensemble, visit www.harlem9.org

The Tony Award-winning Drama Book Shop, now celebrating its 99th year, is located at 250 West 40th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. For more information on this and other events, visit www.dramabookshop.com.

The 12 plays in the first anthology, covering years 2011-2012 include: Ayanna Maia Saulsberry's Funny, I'm A Negro, Harrison David Rivers' delicious(!), Keith Josef Adkins' Potato Salad, Derek Lee McPhatter's All That Yes We Can and Stuff, Mfoniso Udofia's hunger, Dominique Morisseau's The Masterpiece, Zoey Martinson's The Birthday, Marcus Gardley's Let the Church Say..., Kevin R. Free's Turn This Motha Out (with Prayer), Christine Jean Chambers' Half Brothers, France-Luce Benson's Red Bottom, and Dominic A. Taylor's Soldiering.

Harlem9 is an arts organization comprised of 6 producing entities that have come together in Harlem to explore the past, present and future of black culture and celebrate the rich history of storytelling within the African Diaspora. Garlia Cornelia Jones-Ly, Bryan E. Glover, E. Michael Lockley, Jonathan McCrory, and Liberation Theatre Company (Sandra A. Daley-Sharif and Spencer Scott Barros) are the producers that comprise Harlem9.