Photos: The Billie Holiday Theatre's 50th Anniversary Major Presentation BLACK GENIUS IN THE AMERICAN THEATER

See photos from The Billie Holiday Theatre's first major presentation of its 50th Anniversary season with the world premiere of Black Genius in the American Theater: A Concert Reading.

Taking place this past weekend with multiple performances, the show featured excerpts from six of the most notable plays at the Theater over the past five decades including one of its early ones Inacent Black (1979) - which made history when The Billie transferred it to Broadway in 1981 starring Melba Moore with an unprecedented 50% of its finances derived from the African American Community (a first for theater). Also, The Billie's production of Inacent Black featured an up-and-coming Samuel L. Jackson.

The cast for the Concert Reading featured an impressive list of renowned actors across Broadway, television and film including: Peggy Alston, Denise Burse, Billy Eugene Jones, Donald Hinson, Terrence Riggins, Kim Sullivan, Joyce Sylvester, Shani Tabia, Pauletta Washington and co-hosted by Harry Lennix and Phyllis Yvonne Stickney.

The show was met with a rousing reception by audiences and even had special guests in attendance in support including actor and son of Pauletta Washington, John David Washington (who attended Saturday's performance).

Photo Credit: Kevin A. Richards

To post a comment, you must register and login.