Lisa B. Thompson’s Choreopoem Honors Black Women’s Stories by Lynne Stevens Balancing between the reality and the joy of Black women’s lives, Lisa B. Thompson’s choreopoem “The Black Feminist Guide to the Human Body” reminds us of the struggles Black women face every day. An omniscient voice recites the grim statistics on Black women’s…
Quijada & Robinson Display Sensational Musicianship by Joseph Mutti “Mexodus” provides a lesson in humanity among people who are seemingly powerless. Two men, an escaped African American slave and a Mexican soldier, choose to resist enmity, even in the face of huge personal losses. The story takes us back to the days of slavery,…
Millennial Notes Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Manhattan Musical Springs to Life by Isa S. Chu The lights dim, and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Manhattan Latin barrio comes alive in front of our eyes. “In the Heights” sweeps us into the struggles, grief, and triumphs of Washington Heights, a neighborhood known for its Dominican pride, vibrant Latinx culture, and…
Star Finch Explores AI, Channeling the Genius of Black Women by Mary Lou Herlihy “Shipping and Handling” is voluble and experimental, bursting with humor and intrigue. Dr. Mother Mercy offers us a wildly imaginative future—complete with her brood of dancing “Black Robots.” Playwright Star Finch’s fantastical meditations on Black women’s creativity and power feel like…