It’s the summer of 1918. There is a war in Europe and a smaller war in South Carolina. Julia is an African-American seamstress. Herman is a white man who has kept company with her for years. As their growing attraction accelerates into an affair, they must, of course, deal with the prejudices and wrath of ignorance in early 20th-century America.

Wedding Band - Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate New York

Capital Repertory Theatre

"My Children! My Africa!" by Athol Fugard (1989) is a tragedy set in 1985 South Africa, focusing on the clash between non-violent, educational reform and violent revolution during apartheid. An idealistic teacher, Mr. M, mentors gifted Black student Thami and white student Isabel, but the generational divide and rising political unrest cause Thami to abandon education for political action, leading to a tragic, violent climax.

My Children! My Africa!

Based on Alice Walker’s 1982 novel of the same name, "The Color Purple" spans 35 years in the life of Celie, a teenage African-American girl living in Georgia who is given by her abusive stepfather to an even more abusive husband. Though Celie spends most of her days as a servant in her own household and is cut off from those she loves by her husband, she tries to remain hopeful that she will ultimately be reunited with her sister Nettie and her children through her stepparents, Adam and Olivia. Over the years, Celie, increasingly jaded by her lot, finds ways to cope with life: a potential lover in the fabulous Shug Avery, a friend in her stepson’s wife, Sofia, and a love of making stretchable pants that turns into a booming business. Through her string of unfortunate events, Celie learns that the most important thing is that she is a survivor, and that no matter what happens to her, she is still here.

The Color Purple

It’s 1821 in New York, and two productions of Shakespeare’s "Richard III" are vying for audiences. One is presented by the African Company of New York, a downtown theater known for its growing popularity with both Black and white audiences. A white theater owner is threatened by the success of his competition and will stop at nothing to shut them down. Learn what happens in this true story straight from American theater history.

Forty years before Lincoln ended slavery, and 50 years before Black Americans earned the right to vote, the first Black theatrical group in the country, the African Company of New York, presented plays in a downtown Manhattan theatre, to which both Black and white audiences flocked. The drama of this progressive group extended beyond the stage. Shakespeare is the chosen cultural battleground in this inventive retelling of a little-known yet pivotal event in the African Company’s history.

Black Theatre Troupe

Oct 22 - Nov 1, 2026

My Children! My Africa!

Jan 28 - Feb 7, 2027

The Color Purple

May 27 - Jun 6, 2027

The African Company presents Richard III

4 - 14 Jun, 2026

Wedding Band - Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate New York

Black Theatre Troupe