M J W ^g g ^m ^BL ^?R^H f jg M ^B m M Jg ^JH
Welcome to the 14th Biennial
National Black Theatre Festival?
The 2015 National Black Theatre Festival begins with a
bang! The Opening Night Gala is a glitzy, celebrity-heavy celebration
that ushers in a week of Marvtastic-ness. It will be held on Monday, Aug. 3
beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Opening Night Gala Monday, August 3, 2015
M.C. Benton Convention Center
Celebrity Procession
With NBTF Co-Chairs, Debbi Morgan and Darnell Williams ?*.
An hour later - after attendees have enjoyed dinner - African drummers
and dancers will lead a procession of dozens of celebrities and local
dignitaries into the banquet hall to begin the formal program.
Awards Presentation
By 6:45 p.m., the awards presentation will start.
Black Stars Of The Great White Way
About two hours later, the crowd ofa few thousand will make its way a
block over to the Stevens Centerfor a performance of "Black Stars of the
Great White Way"at 9p.m.
Celebrity Reception
Opening Night Gala ticket-holders can gain access to the Celebrity
Reception at the nearby Marriott Hotel at around 10:30p.m.
Tickets to all Opening Night Gala events are $262. Tickets just for the "Black
Stars of the Great White Way" performance on this night are $100.
An impressive list of notables will be honored during this year's gala. They
include those who shine on stage and on screen and the men and women
who work behind the scenes to create magic.
Here is a list of each of the 2015 awardees; bios of each are found
throughout the pages of this publication.
Sidney Poitier Lifelong
Achievement Award
Larry Leon Hamlin Producer Award
Emerging Producer Award
August Wilson Playwright Award
Lloyd Richards Director Award
Living Legend Awards
Bill Cobbs 12
Nate Jacobs 14
Erich 17
McMillan-McCall
Katori Hail 19
Clinton Turner 24
Davis
A. Peter Bailey 25
Maurice Hines 33
Robert Hooks 40
Grace Jones 43
Hattie Winston 48
Outstanding Achievement in
Costume Design
Outstanding Achievement in
Lighting Design
Outstanding Achievement in
Scenic Design
Theatre Longevity Award
Special Recognition Awards
Marvtastic Philanthrophy Award
Theatre Arts & Humanitarian
| Award
ESOSA 55
Allen Lee Hughes 49
Harlan Penn 67
The Carpetbag 69
Theatre, Inc.
Karamu House 69
Rachel P. Jackson 67
The Millennium 68
Fund
Warren Dell 68
Leggett