Black Theatre Day, is a collective effort launched by The International Black Theatre Summit, which is led by Dr. Monica White Ndounou, Associate Professor of Theater at Dartmouth College and founding Executive Director of The CRAFT Institute, with additional support from WACO Theatre Center, Project1Voice, and Plowshares Theatre Company with regional planning committees that include Support Black Theatre, African-American Shakespeare Company, Birmingham Black Repertory Theatre Collective, the Hansberry Project, the Black Theatre Network, and The St. Louis Black Repertory Company. Cohorts and allies throughout the Black Theatre field include numerous participating organizations and supporters over the past two years.
#BTD2024
Black Theatre Day or #BlackTheatreDay (September 17) is an annual day of solidarity and service, to celebrate and support 21st century Black theatres in their ongoing efforts to build sustainable, institutional wealth.
In Fall 2021, The International Black Theatre Summit, biennially convened by The CRAFT Institute, commemorated the 200th anniversary of the African Grove Theatre’s opening night on September 17, 1821 by launching the inaugural #Black Theatre Day with a day of virtual events in collaboration with The Billie Holiday Theatre with some funding from The Black Seed. As the first known professional Black theatre company in the United States—composed of Black Americans and African-Caribbeans—the company launched the career of Ira Aldridge, who claimed to be an African prince as he toured Europe; arguably the greatest Shakespearean tragedian of all times. Black Theatre Day, as an annual celebration, increases visibility of Black Theatre to encourage donations of money, time and service throughout the year.