Event/Site: North Carolina Black Repertory Company Production of Black Nativity at the Arts Council Theatre in Winston-Salem

Date: Mid to late December performances.

Type: Presentation of Langston Hughes' classic "soulful gospel Christmas musical"
Black Nativity, produced by Larry Leon Hamlin and featuring many of the area's leading gospel musicians.

Location: The Arts Council Theatre is located at 610 Coliseum Drive in Winston-Salem, NC. Take I-40 to the Cherry Street exit. Take Cherry Street north through downtown Winston-Salem. Cherry Street will become University Parkway. Continue on University Parkway until the intersection with Coliseum Drive. Turn left at the intersection onto Coliseum Drive. Take the second left up the ramp into the parking lot. Look for sign for Arts Council Theatre in big white letters. Click here for a map.

Cost: Admission: adults $20; children and senior citizens $15. Group rates available.

Parking: Free. Parking adequate for bus tours.

Special Needs Access: Venue is fully accessible.

Signage: Sign on site, but not en route.

Sponsor: North Carolina Black Repertory Theatre/ Larry Leon Hamlin, Director

Web Site: www.nbtf.org

Contact:
Larry Leon Hamlin, Artistic Director
(or Laurente Hamlin, Server Administrator)
NC Black Repertory Theatre/National Black Theatre Festival
610 Coliseum Drive
Winston-Salem, NC 27106
(336) 723-2266; (336) 723-2223
llhamlin@bellsouth.net

Description of Event: The North Carolina Black Repertory Company assembled a superlative group of local performers to offer Black Nativity to the Triad community during the 2001 and 2002 Christmas seasons. Langston Hughes gospel musical celebrating the nativity in Bethlehem in the first act continues with a more contemporary church gospel sing in the second act. Both acts feature outstanding gospel choruses and solos.

History of Event: The North Carolina Black Repertory Company, the first professional black theatre in the state, was founded by Larry Leon Hamlin in 1979. Its production of Black Nativity began in 2001.

Description/History of Site: The Arts Council Theater was founded in 1957 and includes performance space, theater education space, as well as offices for many of the city's cultural organizations

Significance of Site/Event to the Community: Productions such as Black Nativity, presented in public venues, enable a wider audience of local residents and visitors in the community to experience and appreciate the stirring beauty and strength of African American sacred music.