Emana Rachelle

NATIONAL BLACK THEATRE is now accepting applications for the 2024-2026 SOUL SERIES L.A.B. PROGRAMS. Learn how to apply!

Learn about the five talented artists selected for National Black Theatre's 2023 Soul Series Lab Residency Program. Discover their unique work and get an inside look at this exciting opportunity for emerging artists.

Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's National Black Theatre, celebrating its 55th season, has selected four artists for the SOUL Series LAB (Liberating Artistic Bravery) Residency Programs, which is comprised of three signature programs.

The Lucille Lortel Theatre is pleased to announce the recipients of the 3rd Annual NYC Public High School Playwriting Fellowship, created as an opportunity for aspiring young writers citywide to get unparalleled access to professional theater artists for mentoring. The Fellows and Finalists of the program represent every borough of NYC. Each aspiring playwright submitted an original 10-minute play, and was judged by the following panel of playwrights and directors: Preston Burger, Gethsemane Herron, A.J. Muhammad, Cherry Lou Sy, and Gabriel Vega Weissman. Plays were chosen based on dramatic structure and the playwright's individual voice.  

MCC Theater in collaboration with African Film Festival will present the North American premiere of La femme Anjola, directed by Mildred Okwo and written by Tunde Babalola. The event will take place at MCC Theater (511 W 52nd St) on Sunday November 21 at 6pm. 

Nollywood Dreams, the first production of MCC's 2021-22 season, began previews at the Newman Mills Theater on October 21, 2021. Directed by Saheem Ali (Fires in The Mirror), Nollywood Dreams opened on November 11, 2021 and will play a limited run through November 28, 2021.

MCC Theater announced today that the upcoming engagement of Nollywood Dreams will reunite the entire cast from the 2020 MCC production that was postponed due to the theater shutdown. Nollywood Dreams, the first production of their 2021-22 season, will begin previews in-person at MCC Theater’s Newman Mills Theater on October 21, 2021.

This new initiative allows Professional Company Members to receive up to $10,000 to subsidize as much as 50 percent of the fee of a woman stage director or conductor who is contracted for the first time by the company.

Dr. Barbara Ann Teera??s National Black Theatre has expanded its SOUL Series LAB Residency Programs to select five artists. Due to the impact of the pandemic on freelance artists, NBT wanted to deepen its investment in Black artists and support the professional development of key stakeholders of creative production within American Theatre.

Nollywood Dreams begins performances on Thursday, March 19th, 2020, in the Newman Mills Theater at The Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space (511 West 52nd Street), with official opening night set for Monday, April 13th. The cast and creatives of Nollywood Dreams recently met the press and chatted with us about the show.

MCC Theater will soon present the World Premiere of Nollywood Dreams by Jocelyn Bioh (MCC Theater's Burnt Umber Playwright-In-Residence) with direction by Saheem Ali. The cast will feature Charlie Hudson, III (A Raisin in the Sun), Outer Critics Circle and Lortel Award nominee Nana Mensah (Man From Nebraska), Sandra Okuboyejo (Hamilton, Chicago), Ade Otukoya ('Shades of Blue'), Emana Rachelle ('Insecure'), and Abena Mensah-Bonsu.

MCC Theater (Bob LuPone, Bernie Telsey, Will Cantler, Artistic Directors; Blake West, Executive Director) announced today the complete casting for the World Premiere of Nollywood Dreams by Jocelyn Bioh (MCC Theater's Burnt Umber Playwright-In-Residence) with direction by Saheem Ali.

Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's National Black Theatre (NBT), celebrating its 51st season, has selected four artists for the SOUL Series LAB (Liberating Artistic Bravery) Residency Programs, which is comprised of three signature programs: I AM SOUL Playwright Residency, SOUL Producing Residency, and SOUL Directing Residency. 

The Flea Theater is proud to announce the addition of six new Resident Directors to its intensive practicum for early-career directors. Rebecca Aparicio, Jake Beckhard, Daniella Caggiano, Lauren DeLeon, Will Steinberger, and Raz Golden will join the current group of Resident Directors. 

Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's National Black Theatre (NBT) announces the culminating event to happen on Monday, May 13th, 2019 for the 2018 - 2019 SOUL Producing Residency with Black Girls Are From Outer Space. On the heels of Mother's Day, Black Girls Are From Outer Space is a celebration of black women! It is an opportunity to engage in a healthy dialogue on the holistic, rejuvenation of black women and girls who have experienced, witnessed or are the descendants of sexual trauma. How can we reclaim the social narrative that sees and treats our bodies as foreign objects? Perhaps it is our majestic beauty that the world doesn't understand? Or is it the complex grandeur we possess that cannot be named? This event is an opportunity to affirm just how beyond extraordinary we are with: "black girls are from outer space!"

Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's National Black Theatre (NBT)has selected the artists for The L.A.B. [Liberating Artistic Bravery] Residency Program, which is comprised of threesignature programs: I Am Soul Playwright Residency withDarrel Alejandro Holnes& Tracey Conyer Lee; Soul Producing Residency with Emana Rachelle; and NBT will be launching this year the Soul Directing Residency with Ebony Noelle Golden. Through The L.A.B., NBT is able to strengthen the artistic relationship between historic Black theatrical institutions and cutting edge artists and administrators. The goal of The L.A.B. is to help diversify the narratives and possibilities being developed and produced about Black lifestyle in American theatre.