Aziza Barnes News

Aziza Barnes's BLKS is often funny, often vulgar, and sometimes heartbreaking. Now in a world premiere staging at Steppenwolf, BLKS chronicles 24 hours in the lives of three young black women in their early 20s living in New York City. Barnes's playwriting is achingly real and naturalistic, while also showcasing the playwright's poetic chops. In Octavia (Nora Carroll), Imani (Celeste Cooper), and June (Leea Ayers), Barnes has given us three unique and beautifully written characters navigating a tumultuous moment in their young lives.

Ford's Theatre Society announced casting for playwright Timberlake Wertenbaker's sweeping new drama, Jefferson's Garden, playing from January 19 to February 11, 2018. The production features Christopher Dinolfo as Christian and Felicia Curry as Susannah, with Christopher Bloch, Michael Kevin Darnall, Kimberly Gilbert, Michael Halling, Thomas Keegan, Kathryn Tkel and Maggie Wilder. The play is directed by Nataki Garrett (Woolly Mammoth's An Octoroon), associate artistic director of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts Theatre Company.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the world premiere production of BLKS by award-winning poet and playwright Aziza Barnes and directed by Nataki Garrett. BLKS began previews December 7, 2017, opening night is Monday, December 18 and the production runs through January 28, 2018 in the Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N Halsted St. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the world premiere production of BLKS by award-winning poet and playwright Aziza Barnes and directed by Nataki Garrett. An uproarious and frank play, the acclaimed Chicago-based cast features ensemble member Namir Smallwood (Justin /Sosa/Dominican Dude) with Leea Ayers (June), Nora Carroll (Octavia), Celeste Cooper (Imani), Danielle Davis (Ry) and Kelly O'Sullivan (That Bitch on the Couch/White Woman). BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the world premiere production of BLKS by award-winning poet and playwright Aziza Barnes and directed by Nataki Garrett.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the Chicago premiere production of the Obie Award-winning play You Got Older, written by Clare Barron and directed by Jonathan Berry.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the world premiere production of BLKS by award-winning poet and playwright Aziza Barnes and directed by Nataki Garrett. An uproarious and frank play, the acclaimed Chicago-based cast features ensemble member Namir Smallwood (Justin /Sosa/Dominican Dude) with Leea Ayers (June), Nora Carroll (Octavia), Celeste Cooper (Imani), Danielle Davis (Ry) and Kelly O'Sullivan (That Bitch on the Couch/White Woman). Below, check out an interview with playwright Aziza Barnes as she talks about BLKS!

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the world premiere production of BLKS by award-winning poet and playwright Aziza Barnes and directed by Nataki Garrett. An uproarious and frank play, the acclaimed Chicago-based cast features ensemble member Namir Smallwood (Justin /Sosa/Dominican Dude) with Leea Ayers (June), Nora Carroll (Octavia), Celeste Cooper (Imani), Danielle Davis (Ry) and Kelly O'Sullivan (That Bitch on the Couch/White Woman). BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announces an exciting new promotional deal in time for the 2017 holiday season. Perfect for both personal and business gifting, it's easy to warm hearts with the gift of theatre.

Now in its ninth season, the Obie Award winning The Fire This Time Festival has commissioned six playwrights to write new 10-minute plays for the 2018 festival, which will run January 15-28, 2018 at The Kraine Theater (85 East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue and Bowery).

In conjunction with the world premiere of BLKS by acclaimed poet/playwright Aziza Barnes this December, Steppenwolf Theatre Company has collaborated with Barnes to bring a beautiful lineup of Black artists, queer artists, women-identified artists, artists of color and their communities to Steppenwolf's LookOut Series. The BLKS Salon Series celebrates the themes and conversations sparked by Barnes's play an ingenious portrait of a day in the life of four young black women in New York City.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the world premiere production of BLKS by award-winning poet and playwright Aziza Barnes and directed by Nataki Garrett.

The Obie Award winning The Fire This Time Festival welcomes four new playwrights to the third cycle of their New Works Lab, which was created to help playwrights of African and African American descent develop new full-length projects over an eight month period, which will culminate in public readings in Spring 2018.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announces full casting for its upcoming productions of BLKS by poet Aziza Barnes (December 7, 2017 - January 28, 2018); You Got Older by Clare Barron (January 25 - March 11, 2018); and Steppenwolf for Young Adults' production of The Burn by Philip Dawkins (February 14 - March 3, 2018).

Continuing the fight to achieve gender parity in the American Theater, LA-based playwright/producer collective The Kilroys has facilitated its fourth annual List of industry-recommended new plays.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro and Executive Director David Schmitz announced today the 2017/18 Season. The nation's premier ensemble theater, Steppenwolf celebrates its 42nd season with seven captivating shows - three world premieres and four Chicago premieres - that embrace diversity, compassion and imagination.

The Ojai Playwrights Conference (OPC), one of the most acclaimed new play developmental programs in the country, announces its 19th season with an exceptional program of playwrights, new play workshops and special 

FRIGID New York @ Horse Trade is proud to present the second annual Queerly, a festival seen through lavender-colored glasses, June 20-July 2 at The Kraine Theater (85 East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue and Bowery). This year, we're bringing together some of New York City's best performers for a celebration of this diverse, strong, sharing-minded community told through stories, songs, poetry and plays. Tickets ($20, unless otherwise noted) are available for purchase in advance at www.horseTRADE.info. 

Now in it's seventh season, the Obie Award winning The Fire This Time Festival is pleased to announce the play readings for their 2016 festival, which will run January 18-February 6 at The Kraine Theater (85 East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue and Bowery). In addition to play readings the 2016 festival will also feature 10-minute plays directed by Nicole A. Watson, excerpts of solo shows, excerpts from the plays developed in the inaugural writer's group, and a panel discussion.

Witness Relocation presents Charles Mee's Daily Life Everlasting, directed and choreographed by Dan Safer, at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre tonight, April 2, through April 19, 2015.