SpeakEasy’s Play Discussion Club highlights Black playwrights

Celina Colby

Celina Colby is an arts and travel reporter with a fondness for Russian novels.... VIEW BIO

SpeakEasy Stage launched its virtual play discussion series, “Celebrating the Black Narrative,” on July 23. Hosted and moderated by actor Crystin Gilmore, who appeared in SpeakEasy’s production of “School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play,” the group delves into a different play by a Black female playwright each week.

“Oftentimes I look at theater seasons and there’s one Black play. Or there’s two plays out of the season of six or seven that have roles for me,” says Gilmore. “How sad our world isn’t as rich as it could be, our world isn’t as layered as it could be … It’s so important for Black playwrights to be acknowledged and to have the exposure.”

Gilmore and the SpeakEasy team chose the plays because of their diverse storylines and styles. All the plays are contemporary, meaning from the last decade, and are written by Black female playwrights. The next meeting on Aug. 20 will center on Danai Gurira’s piece, “Familiar,” in which a Zimbabwean family who immigrated to Minnesota navigate cultural differences around their daughter’s interracial marriage.

According to Gilmore, more than 40 people attended the first discussion in the series, about local playwright Kirsten Greenidge’s piece, “The Luck of the Irish.” Dwayne P. Mitchell, a local actor from SpeakEasy’s “Choir Boy” also participated in this discussion to bring in the actor’s perspective. The diverse cross section of participants from various ages and backgrounds did some soul-searching during the conversation when many found themselves sympathizing with one of the less likeable characters. “It makes us all check ourselves,” says Gilmore. “How am I more similar to this person than I feel that I am different? That makes us stop and assess where we are in our growth.”

Finding that shared human experience is at the root of the selected plays and the discussions during the “Celebrating the Black Narrative” series. Gilmore hopes that the experience will not only connect participants to Black playwrights, but also inspire theatergoers to request that representation from their local theaters.

The virtual play discussion group is free to all. Participants are required to sign up in advance on the SpeakEasy website and may be required to purchase the play, but there are some underwritten copies available for free to those experiencing financial barriers. “There’s no reason to say ‘I’m unavailable’ or ‘I can’t do this,’” says Gilmore. “SpeakEasy has cut out all the nos.” With the online format, anyone can join from anywhere in the world.

Gilmore encourages participants and theater-lovers to continue exploring Black playwrights on their own time. She says, “Keep going, keep exploring, keep leaving the possibilities open to new works and new playwrights and see what touches your spirit.”