BLACK ANGELS OVER TUSKEEGEE Performs for the Buffalo Bills

Black Angels Over Tuskegee, Layon Gray's acclaimed Off- Broadway play about the Tuskegee Airmen performed a private show for the Buffalo Bills on September 8th. The team flew the cast and crew to Buffalo to perform before its season opener against the Indianapolis Colt. Head coach Rex Ryan who has seen the play now four times is one of the play's biggest fans. "The play was as good as advertised," Ryan said. "The message was outstanding, about teamwork, the way you have to take care of each other, the way you have to go through adversity and still go out and function on a high level." Black Angels Over Tuskegee is now in its sixth year Off-Broadway at St Luke's Theatre (308 West 46th Street). Based on true events, six men explore their collective struggle with Jim Crow, their intelligence, patriotism, dreams of an inclusive fair society, and brotherhood, as they become the first African-American fighter pilots in the U.S. Army Air Forces.

Written and directed by Layon Gray Black Angels Over Tuskegee goes beyond the headlines of the popular stories of the Tuskegee Airmen and exposes the men who exhibited the courage to excel in spite of all the overwhelming odds against them. In addition to performing at the Smithsonian Institute Black Angels Over Tuskegee won a NAACP Award for Best Ensemble, A New York Audelco Award for Special Achievement and an Artistic Director Achievement Award for Best Play. On its tours the play has received nationals sponsorships from The National Urban league, NAACP, Wells Fargo, Tuskegee University just to name a few.

It was also presented at the National Tuskegee Airmen Convention in Las Vegas for over 30 chapters. Original Tuskegee Airmen Ted Lumpkin, President of the Los Angeles Chapter, said, "I love this play. It's real and it reminded me of my times at Tuskegee. It's a great show." The play tours around country and internationally shedding light on these American Heroes. The production has received rave reviews from top critics including The New York Times who describe the performance as "Uplifting and Inspirational: and "Tough to Resist!". For more information log on to www.BlackAngelsOverTuskegee.com.

Black Angels Over Tuskegee is produced Off-Broadway by Edmund Gaynes and The Layon Gray Experience. The playing schedule for Black Angels Over Tuskegee is Sundays at 1pm. Tickets from $39.50 are available at Telecharge.com or by calling 212-239-6200.

Photo by Sue Coflin/Max Photos

To post a comment, you must register and login.