for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf at the Clarice, Feb 21-28

for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf at the Clarice, Feb 21-28

The University of Maryland and the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center present:
for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf
by Ntozake Shange
directed by Ama Law and Fatima Quander

February 21–28, 2025
Fri, Feb 21, 2025 . 7:30PM
Sat, Feb 22, 2025 . 7:30PM
Sun, Feb 23, 2025 . 2:00PM
Wed, Feb 26, 2025 . 7:30PM: Includes an audio description.
Thu, Feb 27, 2025 . 7:30PM: Includes ASL interpretation.
Fri, Feb 28, 2025 . 7:30PM

Venue: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.

Ntozake Shange’s highly influential 1976 choreopoem for colored girls… might well be the most performed and important piece of theater created expressly by and for Black women in the history of the United States. The work has been adapted for both film and television and can boast a Tony-nominated Broadway revival as recently as 2022. UMD School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies faculty members Ama Law and Fatima Quander direct a loving rendition of Shange’s masterpiece that proves its timelessness.

Tickets: $25 Public, $10 Students, click here.

Prince George’s Community College presents Out of the Vineyard, Feb 19-26

Prince George’s Community College presents Out of the Vineyard, Feb 19-26

Prince George’s Community College presents:
Out of the Vineyard
by Psalmayene 24

February 19 – 26, 2025
Wednesday, February 19th at 6:30 PM
Friday, February 21st at 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 22nd at 3:00 PM
Saturday, February 22nd at 7:30 PM
Wednesday, February 26th at 3:00 PM

Location: Prince George’s Community College.

Center for Performing Arts, 301 Largo Road Largo, MD 20774

A vivid, deeply-researched narrative constructed from interviews with descendants of enslaved families and individuals. Through powerful imagery and movement, “Out of the Vineyard” brushes against the grain of history to bring the experiences of freedom-making from enslavement to life.

“Out of the Vineyard (OOTV)” was written by esteemed playwright Psalmayene 24, who masterfully adapts the groundbreaking historical work “A Question of Freedom: The Families Who Challenged Slavery from the Nation’s Founding to Civil War” by historian William G. Thomas III for the stage.

The play highlights the families, names, and places, illuminating stories of quests for freedom and opportunity against systematic racism. By exploring how slavery has shaped our societies and by encouraging audiences to think critically about the legacy of hiding the details of history, “Out of the Vineyard” promotes a deeper understanding of the issues facing us today. The play inspires audiences to work toward a more just and equitable future.

Unraveling over seven decades, the enslaved families of Prince George’s County, Maryland, including the Butlers, Queens, Mahoneys, Bells, and more, embarked on a relentless legal quest for freedom. These brave families confronted formidable slavery within the court system, leading their crusade to the highest echelons of justice: the Supreme Court.

Tickets $40 General, or $10 Students, click here.

Auditions for Teen Performance Ensemble, Anansi the Spider, by M-NCPPC, Feb 16

Auditions for Teen Performance Ensemble, Anansi the Spider, by M-NCPPC, Feb 16

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission announces auditions for:
Teen Performance Ensemble
Anansi the Spider

Audition dates: Sunday, February 16, 2025, 3pm

Venue: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. Prince George’s County Suite at the Clarice.

Join the Teen Performance Ensemble and be part of an exciting new production of Anansi the Spider, a vibrant African folk tale brought to life through music, dance, and drama! This is your chance to perform in a professional tour, develop your acting skills, and get paid for doing what you love. Rehearsals run from April to June, with performances from June 30 to August 8. Pay is $15/hr. Don’t miss this opportunity to shine on stage!

For more information and to fill in the form, click here.

Contact:
Megan Merchant, Career – Arts Specialist
Megan.Merchant@Pgparks.com

Tote that Barge! at the Publick Playhouse, Feb 15

Tote that Barge! at the Publick Playhouse, Feb 15

Prince George’s Publick Playhouse presents:
Tote that Barge!: Black Music and Labor Concert

Saturday, February 15, 2025, 8:00pm

Prince George’s Publick Playhouse.

Enjoy this concert version of the Broadway hit “Showboat” by composer Jerome Kern and lyrics by Rogers and Hammerstein, based on the ASALH 2025 theme of Blacks and Labor. Featuring Grammy award-winning Black classical singers, chorus, and dancers, the Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts (CAAPA) production highlights hit musical selections including “Ol’ Man River” and “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man.” Also highlighted as a part of the show is CAAPA’s version of the famous “Cakewalk”…so remember to bring your own hat, bring your fans, and be a part of the fun!

Tickets: $30 general, $25 students/seniors. Click here.

The Fishwife at the Clarice, Feb 14

The Fishwife at the Clarice, Feb 14

The University of Maryland and the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center present:

Maryland Opera Studio presents:
New Work Reading: The Fishwife
Composed by Ashi Day

Friday, February 14, 2025 • 7:30PM

Venue: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.

From traditional arias to jaunty sea Shanties, The Fishwife is an inventive reimagining of the Brothers Grimm The Fisherman and His Wife. Composed by Ashi Day and commissioned by the Maryland Opera Studio, this new work expands on the original story in an operatic collage of musical languages and styles.

The Maryland Opera Studio is dedicated to the future of opera. Preparing the next generation of great singers and offering performances ranging from classic repertoire to provocative new works, it is building contemporary audiences for opera and advancing the art form to sustain those audiences.

Free, no tickets required, click here.