Written by George Houston Bass and reimagined by Dr. Lisa Biggs
Directed by Gia Yarn
Part of the Brown Arts Institute IGNITE series, and in conjunction with year long events celebrating the reopening of Churchill House, the Department of Africana Studies/Rites and Reason Theatre developed a reimagined version of The Providence Garden Blues.

A developmental workshop and sharing of a new play
Created by Shariffa Ali and Vuyo Sotashe.
In the face of deep-seated fear and uncertainty, Vuyo and their choir-mates embark on a journey of self-discovery, forging an unbreakable bond that carries them all through the highs and lows of the competition and life in newly post-apartheid South Africa.

The Department of Africana Studies/Rites and Reason Theatre presents the annual Black Lavender Experience, a celebration of theatre and conversations sparked by queer artists.
Black (Lavender) Angels Fest: A Ritual Performance featured yaTande Whitney V. Hunter, PhD with Kei Soares Cobb, Assi Coulibaly, Ronald K. Lewis, Mekbul Tahir, Shaffany P. Terrell
With student showcase Ocean by Marcus Waller ’26

May 23, 2024
Written by George Houston Bass and reimagined by Dr. Lisa Biggs
Directed by Jackie Davis
Musical Supervision: Akua Naru
Musical Direction: Becky Bass’13

Building upon the November 2023 Salon, Rites and Reason Theatre shall present a reading of the script in its entirety along with sharing newly composed music.

Written by Jason Tristan Brown'23, Co-Directed by Elmo Terry-Morgan'74 and Connie Crawford
Iyanu embarks on a dangerous journey to find the gourd of wisdom to save the planet Afrofantasia from the marauding Oyinbo.

Songs of a Caged Bird, a new play by Christopher Lindsay MFA’2 tells the story of Lee Berry, a member of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense. As part of the New York 21, Berry and 20 other party members were charged with conspiracy to commit crimes across New York City and jailed. Amid the pain of incarceration, his failing health, and the erosion of hope, Berry finds a way through.

Within Africanist frameworks, art is not a thing, but a doing. Art is a verb. Art causes things to happen. During this time of pain and tumult, art provides us an outlet to process, rage, and heal. Students and artist from Las Vegas to Lagos submitted their Responses In Our Time, using spoken word, rap, performance art, and silence to affirm artmaking as an activist practice.

The first in a slate of many, this event commemorates Rites and Reason Theatre’s 50th Anniversary as the oldest, continuously producing Black Theatre in New England, and the phenomenal contributions to its legacy made by Karen Allen Baxter, the Theatre’s Senior Managing Director. After leading Rites and Reason through an astonishing 250 events, Karen retired in December 2020.

The Black Lavender Experience is a project of the course, Black Lavender: A Study of Plays with Black LGBTQ+ Content. Established as a platform for Queer Artists of Color, it has presented the works of professional and student artists for over a decade.

During Commencement/Reunion Weekend, Africana Studies presents He Rises in Spirit and Power, a memorial event honoring the late Professor Anani Dzidzienyo. The telecast assembles tributes from Gilberto Gil, Olodum, and the scores of scholars inspired by Anani's encouragement. The global network of friends touched by his kindness is immeasurable, and we are grateful to have loved him.