Black History Takes The Virtual Stage: New Federal Theatre Celebrates Black History Month

Black History Takes The Virtual Stage: New Federal Theatre Celebrates Black History Month

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On Saturdays from February 13 to 27, 2021 New York’s New Federal Theatre (NFT) will present “New Federal Theatre Celebrates Black History Month,” a retrospective readings series in which three rarely-done yet noteworthy plays, all previously produced by NFT, will be recreated by savvy actors and directors. These plays illuminate burning issues of their time and are newly instructive today.

The readings will be free and accessible from NFT’s website, https://www.newfederaltheatre.com. Donations will be gratefully accepted.

February 13 @ 7:00 PM (EST), streaming until February 15 @ midnight.

“When the Chickens Come Home to Roost”

By Laurence Holder, directed by Ralph McCain, Featuring Allie Woods as Elijah Muhammad and Lawrence Winslow as Malcolm X.

The play centers on the relationship between Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad – the beating heart of the Black Muslim movement. Its title is a reference to Malcolm X’s notorious comment in the wake of JFK’s assassination. The comment caused him to be censored by his leader, Elijah Muhammad causing a rift between the Nation of Islam’s founder and his star disciple. New Federal Theatre’s 1981 premiere production starred Kirk Kirksey as Elijah Muhammad and Denzel Washington as Malcolm X.

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