NBTF marches into town
Put on your purple and black, the festival is back!
Gala kicks off 16th biennial National Black Theatre Festival
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
The 2019 National
Black Theatre Festival got
off to a Marvtastic start
earlier this week with the
star-studded opening night
Gala. On the evening of
the event, the lobby of the
Benton Convention Cen
ter screamed black excel
lence with attendees wear
ing dazzling gowns and
inspired paintings, stars
like Andre De Shields, Bill
Cobb, Vanessa Bell Cal
loway, Keith David and
countless others mingled
with local elected officials,
business owners, and even
Keith David smiles as he enters into the Gala at The Benton Convention Center.
Photos by Alphonso Abbott Jr.
Margaret “Suge” Avery, 2019 NBTF co-chair, makes her way into the ballroom
during the Opening Night Gala.
lin. Founded by Ham
lin in 1989, the National
Black Theatre Festival is
a six-day celebration of
African American theatre
and those who continue to
tions to the cause of pre
serving Black Theatre.
To jumpstart the gala,
comedian Michael Colyar
and former WXII news
anchor Wanda Starke kept
co-chairs Margaret “Suge”
Avery and Chester Greg
ory, the awards ceremony
officially got underway.
Special Recognition
Awards were presented
formalwear of purple and
black.
While members of
the Carver High School
Marching Band kept the
music going outside, in
side the Benton on a back-
drop of various African-
festivalgoers who just
wanted a quick picture.
As they made their way
to their seats, it seemed as
if everyone stopped and
took a look at the giant
hand-painted portrait of
the late Larry Leon Ham-
push the culture forward
through the arts. The gala,
which is traditionally held
on the first night ofthe fes
tival, serves as an awards
ceremony where actors,
playwrights, directors, and
other creatives are cel
ebrated for their contribu-
the crowd going with a few
jokes. After dinner and the
traditional processional
led by drummers and per
formers from Otesha Cre
ative Arts, greetings from
city officials and celebrity
to Rhodessa Jones, Idris
Ackamoor, and Herman
Levern Thompson-Jones.
Living Legend Awards
were presented to Roscoe
Orman, Thembi Mtshali,
Marjorie Moon, and Art
See NBTF on A2
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