The Billie Holiday Theatre Announces Cast For Women’s History Month Program Starring LaChanze, Pauletta Washington , Jasmine Cephas Jones, Phyllis Yvonne Stickney and MoreI

​The Billie Holiday Theatre
In Collaboration With Frank Silvera Writers’ Workshop Honors Women’s History Month with the Third Annual
50in50: Letters to Our Daughters
50 Stories from 50 Women from Across the Globe
Announcing Renowned Cast With
Marsha Stephanie Blake, Ebony JoAnn, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Terria Joseph, LaChanze, Celestine Rae, Angelica Ross, Michele Shay, Phyllis Yvonne Stickney, and Pauletta Pearson Washington Directed by Indira Etwaroo
With Live Music by Maritri Garrett
Curatorial Statement by MacArthur “Genius” Dominique Morisseau
With the West Coast Premiere at WACO Theater Center in L.A.
Brooklyn, NY – Saturday, March 9, 2019 at 3pm & 7pm Los Angeles, CA – Saturday, March 16, 2019 at 3pm & 7 pm
(Brooklyn, NY – February 19, 2019) – The Billie Holiday Theatre in collaboration with Frank Silvera Writers’ Workshop announces the cast and​ selected writers for the third annu​al monologue showcase, ​50in50: Letters to Our Daughters​ to honor Women’s History Month on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at 3pm and 7pm at the Kumble Theater at LIU, Brooklyn. In response to a curatorial statement by 2018 MacArthur “Genius” Fellow Dominique Morisseau, ​fifty original monologues – selected from hundreds of submission from women of the African Diaspora from across the globe – will be read by renowned actors ​Marsha Stephanie Blake​ (​Orange is the New Black, The Merchant of Venice​ on Broadway), ​Ebony JoAnn​ (​Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom​ on Broadway, ​Grown Ups)​ , ​Jasmine Cephas Jones​ (​Hamilton​ on Broadway, ​Dog Days, Mistress America​), LaChanze​ (​The Color Purple​ and ​Summer: The Donna Summer Musical ​on Broadway)​, ​Terria Joseph (​Empire,​ ​Autumn​ at The Billie), ​Celestine Rae​ (​No More Mr. Nice Guy,​ ​Boardwalk Empire​), ​Angelica Ross (​Her Story, Pose)​ , ​Michele Shay​ (​Seven Guitars ​and ​Raisin in the Sun​ on Broadway) ​Phyllis Yvonne Stickney (​How Stella Got Her Groove Back, The Women of Brewster Place​), and ​Pauletta Pearson Washington​ (​She’s Gotta Have It, The Old Settler​ and ​Autumn​ at The Billie). Live music will be performed by ​Maritri Garrett​.

As part of its continued expansion, The Billie will bring its monologue showcase to the dynamic and newly-created WACO Theater Center in Los Angeles, California for its West Coast premiere. The Waco Theater Center show will also feature Pauletta Washington and Phyllis Yvonne Stickney.
“​50in50​ is a global platform for Black women that speaks to the intersectionality of class, age, ability, gender identity, nationality, and sexual orientation in the 21st century” said ​​Dr. Indira Etwaroo​,​ Executive Director, BHT. “I am proud that we are able to provide a relevant space for artistic expression where 50 fiercely brilliant women writers can have their story come to life through live theater. These are all stories that need to be told and heard. It is not lost on us that ​50in50​ has become increasingly meaningful over the last two years of its existence, as women continue to grapple with historical injustices and social norms that would oppress, rather than liberate. We are deeply honored to bring ​50in50​ to the audiences at the WACO Theatre Center in LA.”
Through a blind adjudication process, The Billie and FSWW selected the following 50 writers’ monologues to be read:
Amanda Graham, AriDy Nox, Arielle C Knight, Ashley Thomas, Benja Thomas, Bridget Doman, Camika Spencer, Colette Boston, Courtney Mericle, Cynthia L Dorsey, Daphne Busby, Debra Bramlett, Desiree Rucker, Dietra Kelsey, Donna Walker-Kuhne, Elisabeth Giffin Speckman, Eraina Ferguson, Felicia Fitzpatrick, Franceli Chapman, Geraldine Ezigbo, Ife Basim, Jackie Torres, Jameelah Nasheed, Jorjina Amefia-Koffi, Kaypri, Kendra Ann Flournoy, Kim Brandon, La’Needra “Lulu” Cornelious, Lexis Green, Lisa B. Thompson, Lola Cooper, Lyndor Jackson, Marcelle Davies-Lashley, Marcia Pendelton, Marleen Jasper, Marlow Wyatt, Paula Gillison, Penny Middleton, Renee Joshua-Porter, Robin Turner, S. Pearl Sharp, Safiya Bandele, Samantha Godfrey, Shalewa Mackall, Sharlee Taylor, Shemetra Carter, Sylvia Gail Kinard, Tajh, Terria Joseph,​ and ​Yoreel Fraser Trumpet.
Since its inception in 1972, The Billie has continued to reinforce its role as a leader in presenting and championing Black storytelling and as a vital resource for its surrounding Bedford Stuyvesant community and beyond.
TICKET INFORMATION
General admission tickets for the performances at the Kumble Theatre are $25 and available for purchase online at​ ​thebillieholiday.org​ and Eventbrite.com.
For tickets by phone, call (718) 636-0918.
Tickets are also available in person at the Billie Holiday Theater Administrative Offices at Restoration Plaza, 1368 Fulton Street | Monday – Friday 4 – 7pm and Saturday 12 – 4pm.
$25 VIP Membership tickets for “Friends of Billie” are available with an added $50 donation to support the theater’s mission and available with upgraded purchase at any of the locations noted above.

Please Note
Due to repairs and upgrades being made to The Billie Holiday Theatre, the stage is temporarily closed. In the interim, The Billie is still fully active and is presenting some of its programs off-site where indicated. ​50 in 50 is presented at the Kumble Theatre, Long Island University Brooklyn, 1 University Plaza, Brooklyn, NY 11201.
About the Billie Holiday Theatre
The AUDELCO and Obie Award-winning ​Billie Holiday Theatre​ is devoted to the discovery of world-class storytelling with a focus on stories for, by and about people of African descent. The Billie presents, promotes and sustains art that reflects the definitive issues of our time in and through all of its forms of expression. The Billie Holiday Theatre has been a significant platform for many Black theater artists, including Samuel L. Jackson, Ruby Dee, Debbie Allen, Wendell Pierce, John Amos, Sonia Sanchez and more.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Additional funding is provided by The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, The Ford Foundation, The Fund for the City of New York and the J. L. Greene Arts Access Fund in The New York Community Trust.
For More Information Contact:
Nina Flowers
Ninaflowerspr@gmail.com
917-388-7444
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Hi Paul​​,