Banks Brothers Productions to Present BLAQUE TCHERIE in 2015

Banks Brothers Productions will be presenting the World Premiere of the stage play "Blaque Tcherie"written by Houston Playwright Vincent Victoria. The show opens March 6 ,2015 and runs through March 29 at Midtown Art Center .3414 La Branch Houston, Texas 77004

"Blaque Tcherie" set in 1954 is a fictional account of the launching of the first all African American girlie magazine similarly styled after Hugh Hefner's Playboy magazine. In the play two ambitious men decide to create a "Black Playboy" and it chronicles their attempt to convince legendary actresses Eartha Kitt, Lena Horne, and Dorothy Dandridge to pose nude as centerfolds.

Says Victoria "In actuality there did exist a Black Girlie magazine called "Duke" that featured beautiful "Negro" centerfolds. The magazine only put out six issues in 1957 then it folded. I want to show that there were always beautiful black women around but because of racist attitudes and ideas about beauty that existed at the time, there wasn't a huge market for such a magazine.Today such African American stars like Beyonce, Rihanna, Halle Berry, and Lupita Nyongo set standards for beauty and frequently grace the cover of magazines in various stages of undress. Fifty years ago that would have been a rare occurrence."

The new play also directed by Victoria will feature a rotating cast of talented Houston actors in the various roles during its three week engagement.Characters represented in the play will include Moms Mabley, Lena Horne, Eartha Kitt and Dorothy Dandridge.

The show will play Friday and Saturday nights at 8pm and Sunday's at 3pm. Tickets will be $15 online available for purchase in January and $20 at the door.

For more information visit www.banksbrothersproductions.com or call Vincent Victoria at 281-832-6380.