Tickets on Sale Now!
Critic's are calling A Lesson Before Dying a "Must-See"
"A Lesson Before Dying has many lessons for all of us, and this production does an excellent job of providing the details of a time gone by while encouraging reflection on our own society today. The African American Repertory Theater is deserving of recognition for their continuing commitment to quality theater. I strongly suggest the drive to DeSoto to see the efforts of this talented cast and crew". Reviewed by Elaine Plybon, Associate Critic for John Garcia's THE COLUMN Click HERE to read the full review
Click HERE to purchase single show tickets on-line.
Jefferson, a young African-American man, receives the death penalty for a crime he did not commit. In an attempt to sway a group of all white jurors, his attorney calls him a hog - forever changing Jefferson's sense of self-worth. Desperate to rescue her godson from the prison of self-hatred, Miss Emma calls on the local school teacher, Grant Wiggins to teach Jefferson what it means to be a man, before he dies. But Grant struggles with his own demons and wants to flee, rather than face his fears in the eyes of a condemned man. But the women in Grant's life won't let him run.
Directed by Regina Washington
Scenic Designer: Kenneth Verdugo
Light Designer: Nikki DeShea Smith
Sound Designer: Bear Hamilton
Costume Designer: Regina Washington
Children Voices: Amber Terrace Elementary School Students (DeSoto, Texas)
Bayonne, Louisiana, 1948.
Jefferson, a young African-American man, receives the death penalty for a crime he did not commit. In an attempt to sway a group of all white jurors, his attorney calls him a hog - forever changing Jefferson’s sense of self-worth. Desperate to rescue her godson from the prison of self-hatred, Miss Emma calls on the local school teacher, Grant Wiggins to teach Jefferson what it means to be a man, before he dies. But Grant struggles with his own demons and wants to flee, rather than face his fears in the eyes of a condemned man. But the women in Grant’s life won’t let him run.
Show runs weekends beginning April 5 - 28, 2013. Friday and Saturday Evening Shows at 7:30pm, $25. Saturday and Sunday Matinee Shows at 2:30pm, $20. Preview Show: Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 7:30pm, $12.
Fences by August Wilson
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 1987 Tony Award for Best Play
Pittsburgh, 1957 - the Civil Rights Movement is beginning, and new doors of opportunity are slowly creaking open. With change on the horizon, Cory Maxson has a chance to do something his father Troy never did – play pro ball. But Troy’s own failure to realize his dreams creates a paralyzing fear that threatens his son’s future. What happens to a dream deferred? August Wilson’s Fences brings this question to startling and heartbreaking life. Much like Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, Fences challenges our worship of the American Dream by examining the prejudices on which that dream is based.
Single show tickets on sale now!
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AUDIENCES ARE LOVING THE NACIREMA SOCIETY ...
Click on picture below to purchase tickets.
“The Nacirema Society takes place in Montgomery Alabama in 1964, but it’s not a history play. First of all, the sixties are not history to me. They are the years that shaped my life. And secondly, because even in the midst of all that upheaval, people still laughed, and cried, fell in an out of love, kept the family secrets, and spilled the beans.” Pearl Cleage
Join AART as we celebrate the voice of Pearl Cleage, an American treasure – in the area premiere of a wonderful romantic comedy that delightfully mixes debutantes, social change, and a delicious helping of scandal. Directed by Ptosha Storey.
Click on the link below to see the trailer from the Alliance Theater's production of this play.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9HyNQRQCXQ
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CROWNS WAS AN AUDIENCE FAVORITE!
Thank you for coming out to see CROWNS!
Critics are raving about CROWNS! Click HERE to read the full review.
"Crowns has a story to tell and the music to carry the message. This cast is a power-house of talent and energy. And this production is well-directed and well-designed. It is worth the drive to DeSoto." -- The Column
Crowns, by noted actor and playwright Regina Taylor, is an inspiring musical that captures the journey of a young woman following a tragedy in Brooklyn. It is a joy-filled celebration of the human spirit told through the eyes of wise Southern women. Through the masterful storytelling of these women, Yolanda finds comfort and strength as they explain the rituals connected to their dazzling hats and trace the roots of music from gospel through present day hip-hop. Crowns is a must-see celebration of song, dance, and cultural history!
Directed by Sonya Ewing Andrews and Musical Direction by Melanie Bivens.
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This powerhouse cast features Ebony Marshall, Catherine Whiteman, Kenneisha Thompson, Malcolm Beaty, Ardina Lockhart, Natalie King, Liz Francisco, and Tommy King.
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Monday, June 18th: Benefit Reading of The Amen Corner
Starring Irma P. Hall - Showtime 7 PM @ The Corner Theatre - 6 PM pre-show reception
Click HERE to purchase tickets online (no transaction fees)
Silent Auction Included: items including Dallas Mavericks Tickets, 4-day 3-night stay in a Villa in Florida, artwork and more.
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Critics are RAVING about Warriors Don't Cry.
DMagazine calls this show a must see: Click HERE to read the review.
The Column calls the show a must see: Click HERE to read the review.
1957, Little Rock, Arkansas -- Melba Pattillo, along with eight other black students, together known as the "Little Rock Nine," integrated the prestigious Central High School. Showing surprising strength for a 15 year old, Melba wanted access to the lunch counter at the five-and-dime, to the "whites only" ladies' rooms, to public water fountains, and, most of all, to a good education. Her memoir, Warriors Don't Cry, is a chilling account of the tumultuous year that changed her life and pricked our nation's conscience.
Click Here to view the Warriors Don't Cry Trailer
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Thank you for attending Free Man of Color
An arousing drama based on the true story of John Newton Templeton, the first freed slave to graduate from Ohio University some 35 years before the Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery in January 1863! In Free Man of Color, Templeton, a fascinating but forgotten figure in our history, learns that freedom comes with great responsibility and that what awaits him is not as certain as the color of his skin. Winner of the Joseph Jefferson Award for Outstanding New Work in Chicago, Free Man of Color challenges us to examine our humanity and reminds us that true freedom comes not from the law, but from taking charge of our destiny.
"Bold and striking new work" - Chicago Tribune
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February 3 - 26, 2012
Friday & Saturday Nights @ 7:30pm $20
Saturday & Sunday Matinee @ 2:30pm $15
Preview Performance on Thursday, February 2 @ 7:30pm $10
Box Office - 972.572.0998
DeSoto Corner Theatre
211 East Pleasant Run DeSoto, Texas 75115
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Thank you for your support of AART during our first three seasons! In our third year we reached new heights. Flyin' West was an all time fan favorite and our closing show for 2011, Woman From the Town ended our season on a grand note. We are taking AART to new heights in Fiscal 2012 and with your support it can happen! The founders and our Board of Directors invite you to stay connected with AART by joining our mailing list and becoming a fan on our face book page and twitter. To renew your patronage, click on our donation link. AART is a 501C3 organization and all donations are tax deductible. Thank you for your continued support of AART.
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PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT TODAY AND KEEP BLACK THEATER ALIVE!
Click on the image below to make a donation to AART
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Click to left to go to the AART Facebook page.
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MISSION STATEMENT:
To produce engaging, culturally diverse theater from an African American perspective while educating our community on African American history and the arts.
African-American Repertory Theater’s goals are:
To create opportunity for African American artists, while exercising non-traditional casting to create an all-inclusive tapestry reflective of the members of our community.
To produce quality cross cultural theater that will enhance the values of the African American community.
To educate our youth and the community at large to foster a greater awareness of African American history and the arts.
To encourage collaborative efforts between organizations from a variety of sectors to leave a lasting impact on our society.
To use the arts to dispel the stereotypes of the African American community and other cultures.
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AART is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit and all contributions are tax deductable.
CONTACT INFO:
AART
P.O. Box 608
DeSoto, Texas 75123
(972) 572-0998
art.reptheater@gmail.com
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