Clockwise from top left: E.J. Batiste, Lynne Childress, D.L. Patrick, Gail Lou.
NEW YORK CITY: Blackboard Plays and the Parent Artist Advocacy League (PAAL) have partnered to showcase stories of Black families for the third annual Black Motherhood and Parenting New Play Festival (BMPFest). The festival began streaming on Nov. 22 and will conclude on Jan. 7, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. EST, and the following Jan. 14, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. EST for premium pass holders.
BMPFest serves as both a celebration of Black family stories and a vital fundraiser to support the future of the festival and co-parent org Blackboard Plays. Each year, the festival delves deeply into the multifaceted experiences of Black parenthood and family life, offering audiences engaging storytelling experiences across a variety of themes and styles. Playwright conversations from current and previous seasons are available on the festival’s and Blackboard Plays’ YouTube channels.
The four finalists for the festival are E.J. Batiste, Lynne Streeter Childress, Gail Lou, and D.L. Patrick. Each playwright and their play have been paired with a partner theatre with a vested interest in supporting the new work of Black parents and caregivers. This season’s partner theatres are the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Arena Stage, Detroit Public Theatre, and National Black Theatre.
In Can You Hear the Echo? by E.J. Batiste, directed by Mary E. Hodges and presented in partnership with the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Marjorie finds herself unable to notice that postpartum depression (PPD) and postpartum anxiety (PPA) have taken hold of her as she tries to continue her pre-baby lifestyle.
Mysteries They Solved: A Mom and Malcolm Adventure by Lynne Streeter Childress features Lena, a Black mother who has been homeschooling her elementary-aged son, Malcolm, and her husband, Derrick, who decide to send Malcolm back to public school. During a community council meeting that Malcolm attends for a social studies credit, they discover a series of mysterious disappearances in local yards that have left officials baffled. Mysteries is directed by Tanasia Lewis and presented in partnership with Arena Stage.
Fugue in D’Mentia by Gail Lou captures the everyday conversations between a 92-year-old father and his granddaughters, his interactions with his 94-year-old sister, and the continuous backdrop of shared meals. This poignant piece delves into the complexities of aging, the persistence of memory, and the enduring bonds that hold families together. Directed by Jamil A.C. Mangan, it is presented in partnership with Detroit Public Theatre.
Right Behind You by D.L. Patrick focuses on the life of a woman fighting Covid, as well as the daughter and granddaughter who care for her in the years leading up to her diagnosis and eventual passing. Directed by amani meliyah, it is presented in partnership with National Black Theatre.
Founded in 2008, Blackboard Plays is devoted to Black playwrights throughout the African Diaspora. The Blackboard Reading Series was incubated at Nancy Manocherian’s the cell theatre as a resident series for 10 years, before making their new physical home in the Mary Rodgers Room at the Dramatists Guild in 2018. Feature readings and community nights are two ways that Blackboard supports the development of new work by Black Playwrights.
Parent Artist Advocacy League (PAAL) is a national advocacy organization serving as a resource hub, community, and solutions generator for caregivers in the performing arts and media and the institutions who support them. PAAL created the first all-gender, all-discipline national PAAL childcare grants for individuals and institutions and the PAAL National Handbook of Best Practices for Parent and Caregiver Support. PAAL continues to provide digital training, consulting, and creating active and ongoing affinity spaces for all caregivers in the performing arts and media.
