Jackie Taylor News

Jaxx Theatricals has announced their 17 Year Anniversary Extension of Andrew Lippa's Wild Party as part of the Jaxx Theatre's Grand Re-Opening in their new home on Wednesday, March 27th through March 30th, 2024.

The nonprofit Black Arts & Culture Alliance of Chicago has announced the winners of its 23rd Annual Black Excellence Awards, honored Monday night in a festive celebration at Black Ensemble Theater. Learn more about the winners here!

BLACK ENSEMBLE THEATER will conclude its 2023 season with the holiday favorite, THE OTHER CINDERELLA, written and directed by Jackie Taylor.

Discover the Black Arts & Culture Alliance of Chicago, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and showcasing Black artists. Learn about their 26-year legacy and their mission to advance excellence in the vibrant Black arts and culture sector in Chicago. Join them in celebrating Black Arts Month in October with a lineup of events and exhibitions.

Black Ensemble Theater extends the hit musical revue 'A Taste of Soul' written and directed by Daryl D. Brooks. Experience the evolution of Soul music from its Gospel roots to today's pop culture sensation. Now playing through October 29, 2023.

Chicago celebrates the depth and breadth of Atlanta’s Poet Laureate with a first-ever citywide festival, featuring the centerpiece production The Nacirema Society, directed by Lili-Anne Brown at Goodman Theatre, plus concurrent readings, workshops and special events.

The nonprofit African American Arts Alliance of Chicago has announced Charlique C. Rolle as its new board president, effective immediately. Rolle is the first new president in the Alliance’s 26-year history, following the celebrated tenure of founding president Jackie Taylor. Joining Rolle as the new vice president of the Alliance is Vershawn Sanders-Ward.

Black Ensemble Theater kicks off the return of its smash-hit summer series “Fridays on the Green” on Friday, July 21 on the Black Ensemble lawn at Clark and Sunnyside.

 Black Ensemble Theater’s Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor has announced the 2023 Black Playwrights Initiative (BPI) Festival, July 11-15, 2023 at Black Ensemble Theater. 

Black Ensemble Theater’s has announced their 2023 Season of Excellence: REJUVENATION. The Season will begin with a tribute to one of the most successful groups in the history of music—the recipients of 7 Grammy Awards—Earth Wind and Fire.

Black Ensemble Theater's Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor concludes the 2022 Season of Excellence: The Season of Healing and Joy with the world premiere musical Blue Heaven, written and directed by Producing Managing Director Daryl D. Brooks. 

The acclaimed Black Ensemble Theater, led by Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor, will celebrate 46 years of theater excellence in Chicago with its Legacy Gala 2022: Rejoice, Restore and Rejuvenate. Black Ensemble Theater’s Legacy Gala 2022 will be held Thursday, October 20, 6pm-9pm, at the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center.

The Board of Directors of the African American Arts Alliance, and the Black Excellence Awards Committee have announced the nominations for the 22nd Annual Black Excellence Awards. The Awards were established in 2002 to honor the outstanding works of art by African Americans in Theater, Dance, Music, Film, Literature, Visual Arts and Digital Media.

Black Ensemble Theater’s is continueing the 2022 Season of Excellence: The Season of Healing and Joy with the world premiere of My Brother Langston, written and directed by Rueben D. Echoles, The production runs August 13-September 18, 2022. Get a first look at photos and video here!

Black Ensemble Theater will round out its summer series ‘Fridays on the Green’ this coming Friday on the Black Ensemble lawn at Clark and Sunnyside. The last of this summer’s performances runs this Friday, July 29, from 6:30pm – 8:00pm, featuring The Masters Collection.

Black Ensemble Theater’s Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor continues the 2022 Season of Excellence: The Season of Healing and Joy with the world premiere of Grandma’s Jukebox, written and directed by Michelle Reneé Bester. 

Black Ensemble Theater’s Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor announces the 2022 Black Playwrights Festival from April 26-30, 2022, featuring works by Viola Bennett, Jill Ross, Lillian Mitchum, Reginald Williams and Dwight Neal, curated and directed by Black Ensemble Producing Managing Director Daryl D. Brooks. 

The Sarah Siddons Society is set to present its 2022 Leading Artist Award to Broadway star Courtney Reed, who is currently leading the North American tour of the Tony Award-winning musical, Moulin Rouge. Reed is a graduate of the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, one of the four Chicago area theater schools which receives funds for scholarships from the Society.

Black Ensemble Theater’s Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor kicks off the 2022 Season of Excellence: The Season of Healings with the world premiere of Jackie Taylor’s It’s Just Like Coming to Church (Welcome to The Church of YOU). The production runs March 12-April 24, 2022. The opening is Sunday, March 20 at 3:00pm.

Black Ensemble Theater's Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor announces its 2022 Season of Excellence: The Season of Healings.