Four decades with Black Theatre Workshop

Montreal’s Black Theatre Workshop is staging a new production of A Raisin in the Sun to celebrate 40 years of success and a strong partnership with the Concordia community.

Initially mandated to provide a creative and exploratory outlet for black artists in Montreal, the Black Theatre Workshop was formed in the 1970s to generate greater cross-cultural understanding. 

The Tony award-winning A Raisin in the Sun, written by Lorraine Hansberry, has earned an honoured place in the history of American theatre as the first African-American play produced on Broadway.

Directed by Tyrone Benskin for the Black Theatre Workshop, A Raisin in the Sun portrays a 1950s African-American family in pursuit of the ‘American dream’ in Chicago. This classic script paved the way for the distinct voice of African-American’s expressing their hopes, dreams and challenges in the mid-20th Century.

Concordia faculty, students and alumni continue to play an important role in the development of the Black Theatre Workshop. Mike Payette, a Fine Arts alumnus and Montreal-based actor, plays the role of George Murchison in A Raisin in the Sun, while costume design is by alumna Sarah Hall-Khlifi.

Part-time theatre instructors Kate Bligh and Rachel Van Fossen have both acted as artistic directors for the Black Theatre Workshop in the past, in addition to the invaluable participation of numerous Concordia theatre students and graduates.

“Concordia has supplied the Black Theatre Workshop with artistic directors, technical directors, advisory Board members, actors, administrators and interns. Vice-Rectors, Provosts, and Deans have sat at the head tables at our annual galas held to honour Concordia's arts and cultural leaders,” says Clarence Bayne, Director of the Concordia Institute for Community Entrepreneurship & Development as well as  Black Theatre Workshop founding Executive Director and current Vice-President.

“The Concordia community is not always aware of this vital connection, but at the Black Theatre Workshop, we know and we live this history,” Bayne continues.

“Garvin Jeffers, former Principal of Westmount High School, once wrote that the Black Theatre Workshop is “the soul of Black people.” If that is true, then Concordia has been the silent partner that has helped make this possible.”

A Raisin in the Sun opens November 24 and runs until December 5 at Centaur Theatre (453 St. Francois-Xavier St.). Admission is $24 or $20 for students, seniors and professional artists. Call 514-288-3161 for more details. 

Related Links:
•    Black Theatre Workshop
•    Concordia Department of Theatre
•    Concordia Institute for Community Entrepreneurship & Development