Black Stories Black Voices
“Our mission is to tell and amplify Black stories and Black voices through playwriting, acting and all theatrical disciplines. With BSBV, we hope to help shine a light on the richness of the Black experience in the Appalachian region, and for this region, with plays, readings, and community engagement opportunities such as our post show events during our main stage season and our annual SHINE: Illuminating Black Stories event. Below you will be able to read more about our initiative, see our upcoming events, and find resources about our playwriting submissions.”
– Terrance Jackson, Director of Outreach & Barter’s Black Stories Black Voices
Questions? Contact Terrance directly!
TELL ME MORE ABOUT …
EVENTS BY BLACK STORIES BLACK VOICES
GROWING THE LEGACY
Sunday, March 3rd after the 3pm matinee of HOME at Barter’s Smith Theatre
The farming life can be a tough row to hoe, and even greater challenges face the members of the Black farming community. With this in mind, Barter Connects is thrilled to welcome Jason Tartt, a Black West Virginian farmer and co-founder of EDGE (Economic Development Greater East). Jason will discuss EDGE’s mission, the challenges it faces, the community it serves, and its hopes and dreams for the future of Black farming in this region. A great discussion and great way to kick off our Barter Connects series. Join us!
As part of this event, Barter is committed to removing the barriers that may have traditionally kept members of the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color) community from the theater. For this performance we are excited to offer tickets to BIPOC individuals for $15 at the door. Tickets will be first come first serve and can only be purchased at the theater the night of the show.
FREE AT LAST?
Thursday, August 8th after the 7:30pm show of THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION on Gilliam Stage
Barter Connects celebrates the 8th of August by welcoming Ron Carson, founder of the Appalachian African American Cultural Center, to its Gilliam Stage. Ron will join Terrance Jackson, Barter’s Director of BSBV, for a discussion on what freedom meant for the first to celebrate the 8th of August, and what it means for the Black community today. An important conversation you don’t want to miss!
PAST EVENTS GALLERY
Play Reading of TRAINS by Quinton Cockrell (Fall 2023)
SKELETON CREW Community Night (Summer 2023)
SHINE: Illuminating Black Stories (Spring 2023)
Play Reading of THE TRANSPORTED MAN by Russell Nichols (Spring 2023)
BSBV PRESS & PUBLICATIONS
WRITING RESOURCES & SUBMISSIONS
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
BSBV’S MONOLOGUE COMPETITION
It is our hope that by connecting Black playwrights (wherever they are located) with stories from Black Appalachian communities, we can:
- Create monologues that can be developed into full-length plays
- Create work that explores the Black Appalachian experience, both past and present
- Establish and cultivate relationships with Black playwrights and other Black theatre artists
- Give audiences accessibility to new perspectives on life in Appalachia
5-7 monologues will be selected a year to be performed at SHINE: Illuminating Black Stories, in April 2024.
Monologue Submission Guidelines
- Playwright must be Black.
- Monologues must be set in Appalachia. (See link below for list of qualifying states/counties as defined by the Appalachian Regional Commission)
https://www.arc.gov/appalachian_region/CountiesinAppalachia.asp - Monologues must be 5-7 minutes in length (190 words = 1 minute).
- Monologues must be unpublished and not have had a professional production.
- Monologues must be submitted electronically.
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Monologues must be written using selected prompts.
Deadline for 2024 Submissions: CLOSED
Please submit monologues to: tjackson@bartertheatre.com
BSBV’S FULL PLAY SELECTIONS FOR AFPP
As part of our commitment to amplifying the voices of Black Appalachians, our annual Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights (AFPP) presents at least one play written by a Black playwright each year.
Past BSBV Selects for AFPP:
2023 – The Transported Man by Russell Nichols
2022 – Fish-Tales & Legendary Lies by Anthony Mapp
2021 – City Limits by Quinton Cockrell
Full Length Play Submission Guidelines
- Playwright must be Black.
- Plays must be written by an Appalachian playwright or the plays must be set in the Appalachian Region. See here for list of qualifying states/counties as defined by the Appalachian Regional Commission.
- Plays must be full length.
- Plays must be unpublished and not have had a professional production.
- Plays must be submitted electronically.
Deadline for 2024 Submissions: CLOSED
Please submit plays to: apfestival@bartertheatre.com
