25 Plays from The Fire This Time Festival: A Decade of Recognition, Resistance, Resilience, Rebirth, and Black Theater

The Fire This Time Festival in New York City has become a destination for emerging and early career playwrights from the African diaspora, addressing inequality in education and healthcare, skewed and negative images of Black people in mainstream media, racism in policing, gentrification, and the growth of Black love. 25 Plays from The Fire This Time Festival: A Decade of Recognition, Resistance, Resilience, Rebirth, and Black Theater reflects this legacy, featuring 25 ten-minute plays by seminal writers such as Katori Hall, Antoinette Nwandu, Dominique Morisseau, C.A. Johnson, and Marcus Gardley.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 10 February 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The past decade has been a challenging time for the United States, marked by significant social and political upheaval. However, the Black community has shown remarkable resilience and strength, engaging in open dialogues and advocating for change. One notable example of this resilience is the Obie Award-winning The Fire This Time Festival, which takes place annually in New York City. Since its founding in 2009, this theater festival has become a hub for emerging and early career playwrights from the African diaspora.

The Fire This Time Festival has played a crucial role in addressing various issues facing the Black community in the United States. These issues include inequality in education and healthcare, skewed and negative images of Black people in mainstream media, racism in policing, widespread gentrification, and its impact on multi-generational Black neighborhoods. The festival has provided a platform for these conversations to take place, fostering a sense of community and solidarity among Black artists and audiences.

The anthology titled 25 Plays from The Fire This Time Festival: A Decade of Recognition, Resistance, Resilience, Rebirth, and Black Theater captures the essence of this fantastic legacy. Compiled and edited by Kelley Nicole Girod, the anthology comprises 25 ten-minute plays that were originally produced at the festival. These plays span from 2009 to the present day, capturing the diverse experiences of Black people in the United States during this period.

The anthology is organized into seven thematic sections, each addressing multi-faceted aspects of the Black experience. The sections include "Hope and Progress," "Existential Threats," "Love and Relationships," "Identity and Culture," "Social Justice," "Community and Solidarity," and "Legacy and Remembrance." Each section features works by seminal writers such as Katori Hall, Antoinette Nwandu, Dominique Morisseau, C.A. Johnson, and Marcus Gardley, among others.

What makes 25 Plays from The Fire This Time Festival particularly compelling is its timeliness and timelessness. The plays address contemporary issues that are relevant to the Black community, but they also offer insights into the historical and cultural roots of these issues. The anthology serves as a valuable resource for students, educators, and theater enthusiasts alike, providing a platform for study, performance, and reflection on the Black experience in the United States.

In conclusion, the past decade has been a challenging time for the United States, but the Black community has shown remarkable resilience and strength. The Fire This Time Festival has played a crucial role in addressing various issues facing the Black community, providing a platform for open dialogues and advocacy. The anthology titled 25 Plays from The Fire This Time Festival: A Decade of Recognition, Resistance, Resilience, Rebirth, and Black Theater captures the essence of this fantastic legacy, offering a valuable resource for study, performance, and reflection on the Black experience in the United States.

Weight: 238g
Dimension: 157 x 234 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350268104