Photos: National Black Theatre Festival productions
NBTF The Life of Mary McLeod Bethune
Richarda Abrams performs "First By Faith: the Life of Mary McLeod Bethune" on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in Mountcastle Forum at Rhodes Center for the Arts in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Twelfth Night or What You Will Mon
Cast members April Mae Davis (from left), Pamela Reid, Aje Brown and E.E Williams get ready to perform "Twelfth Night, or What You Will, Mon," on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, at Winston Square Park in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Front Porch Society
"Front Porch Society" is performed on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in Hanesbrands Theatre at Rhodes Center for the Arts in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Twelfth Night or What You Will Mon
Director Ted Lange watches as "Twelfth Night, or What You Will, Mon," is performed on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, at Winston Square Park in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF The Life of Mary McLeod Bethune
A crowd of people waits to enter Mountcastle Forum for the "First By Faith: the Life of Mary McLeod Bethune" performance on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, at Rhodes Center for the Arts in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Twelfth Night or What You Will Mon
Cast members Amberlin McCormick and Grant Cunningham perform "Twelfth Night, or What You Will, Mon," on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, at Winston Square Park in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF The Life of Mary McLeod Bethune
Richarda Abrams performs "First By Faith: the Life of Mary McLeod Bethune" on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in Mountcastle Forum at Rhodes Center for the Arts in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Twelfth Night or What You Will Mon
Mo Brown (left) and Melissa Raquel Jones dance along as "Twelfth Night, or What You Will, Mon," is performed on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, at Winston Square Park in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Twelfth Night or What You Will Mon
"Twelfth Night, or What You Will, Mon," is performed on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, at Winston Square Park in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Twelfth Night or What You Will Mon
Phillip Bernard Smith gets ready to perform "Twelfth Night, or What You Will, Mon," on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, at Winston Square Park in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Twelfth Night or What You Will Mon
A crowd fills the amphitheatre for "Twelfth Night, or What You Will, Mon," on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, at Winston Square Park in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Twelfth Night or What You Will Mon
April Mae Davis wipes Jason McKinney's forehead before performing "Twelfth Night, or What You Will, Mon," on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, at Winston Square Park in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Front Porch Society
"Front Porch Society" is performed on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in Hanesbrands Theatre at Rhodes Center for the Arts in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF The Life of Mary McLeod Bethune
Richarda Abrams performs "First By Faith: the Life of Mary McLeod Bethune" on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in Mountcastle Forum at Rhodes Center for the Arts in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF The Life of Mary McLeod Bethune
People in the audience raise their hand while watching "First By Faith: the Life of Mary McLeod Bethune" on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in Mountcastle Forum at Rhodes Center for the Arts in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Bricktop Legend of the Jazz Age
Gabrielle Lee performs "Bricktop: Legend of the Jazz Age" on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in Reynolds Place Theatre at Rhodes Center for the Arts in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF The Life of Mary McLeod Bethune
Veronica Sides wears purple earrings to match her purple shirt while working the door for the "First By Faith: the Life of Mary McLeod Bethune" performance on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in Mountcastle Forum at Rhodes Center for the Arts in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Bricktop Legend of the Jazz Age
A member of the audience enjoys the "Bricktop: Legend of the Jazz Age" performance on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in Reynolds Place Theatre at Rhodes Center for the Arts in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Front Porch Society
"Front Porch Society" is performed on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in Hanesbrands Theatre at Rhodes Center for the Arts in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Front Porch Society
"Front Porch Society" is performed on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in Hanesbrands Theatre at Rhodes Center for the Arts in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Front Porch Society
A full house watches the "Front Porch Society" performance on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in Hanesbrands Theatre at Rhodes Center for the Arts in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Bricktop Legend of the Jazz Age
Gabrielle Lee performs "Bricktop: Legend of the Jazz Age" on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in Reynolds Place Theatre at Rhodes Center for the Arts in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Twelfth Night or What You Will Mon
Cast members rest backstage between scenes in "Twelfth Night, or What You Will, Mon," on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, at Winston Square Park in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Twelfth Night or What You Will Mon
Amberlin McCormack (front) and Grant Cunningham act out a scene in "Twelfth Night, or What You Will, Mon," on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, at Winston Square Park in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Twelfth Night or What You Will Mon
Erik DiLauro, a member of the tech crew, does pull-ups on the branch of a tree after a doing a set of push-ups during the "Twelfth Night, or What You Will, Mon," performance on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, at Winston Square Park in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C. DiLauro said he's trying to stay in shape because working the festival takes a lot of time out of the day.
NBTF Twelfth Night or What You Will Mon
Jason McKinney (from left), Tameka Bennett and Amberlin McCormick perform "Twelfth Night, or What You Will, Mon," on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, at Winston Square Park in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Front Porch Society
"Front Porch Society" is performed on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in Hanesbrands Theatre at Rhodes Center for the Arts in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Bricktop Legend of the Jazz Age
Gabrielle Lee performs "Bricktop: Legend of the Jazz Age" on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in Reynolds Place Theatre at Rhodes Center for the Arts in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF The Life of Mary McLeod Bethune
Debra Stokes (right) and Veronica Sides are dressed in purple for the National Black Theatre Festival while working the door for the "First By Faith: the Life of Mary McLeod Bethune" performance on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in Mountcastle Forum at Rhodes Center for the Arts in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Front Porch Society
"Front Porch Society" is performed on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in Hanesbrands Theatre at Rhodes Center for the Arts in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Front Porch Society
"Front Porch Society" is performed on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in Hanesbrands Theatre at Rhodes Center for the Arts in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Twelfth Night or What You Will Mon
A crowd fills the amphitheatre for "Twelfth Night, or What You Will, Mon," on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, at Winston Square Park in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Twelfth Night or What You Will Mon
Amberlin McCormick runs around the amphitheater while acting out a scene in "Twelfth Night, or What You Will, Mon," on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, at Winston Square Park in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Twelfth Night or What You Will Mon
E.E Williams and Amar Singh Bains act out a scene in "Twelfth Night, or What You Will, Mon," on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, at Winston Square Park in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Front Porch Society
"Front Porch Society" is performed on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in Hanesbrands Theatre at Rhodes Center for the Arts in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Bricktop Legend of the Jazz Age
Gabrielle Lee performs "Bricktop: Legend of the Jazz Age" on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in Reynolds Place Theatre at Rhodes Center for the Arts in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
NBTF Bricktop Legend of the Jazz Age
The orchestra for "Bricktop: Legend of the Jazz Age" plays on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in Reynolds Place Theatre at Rhodes Center for the Arts in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
The story of Ada “Bricktop” Smith is the story of the first half of 20th-century America — both here and abroad.
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