Announcement Coming Soon:
BMP Festival 2024 Lineup
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Stay tuned for the announcement of this year's finalists, partners, and more!
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Read About Past Festivals:
BOTANICALS OR GIVING IT TO GOD - Available Friday, November 25, 2022
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Joe is content living with his plants, listening to jazz albums, staying away from the world. Joe's neighbor, Rose, respects and looks after neighbors and teaches her children to do the same. When Rose's oldest son is murdered, Joe is forced to deal with his neighbor and his own inhibitions.
'Botanicals or Giving It to God' is a play about how difficult it is for us to heal and forgive.
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SAHM Director Interview: Jamil Jude
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With our festival set to stream, meet the 1st of our 4 Directors ahead of the pieces he directed. JAMIL JUDE, director of SAHM, written by SONHARA EASTMAN sat down with #BMPFest Executive Producer, Garlia Cornelia Jones to talk Parenting and Play-making.
Meet the Playwrights!
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The first pieces of content we have to share with you is free! Our Playwrights' Panel launched our festival. Our four playwrights were led in conversation by DR. RASHIDA HARRISON.
SONHARA EASTMAN with SAHM, directed by JAMIL JUDE
NAOMI LORRAIN with THERESA, directed by KHANISHA FOSTER
NICOLE SANTORA with THE LAST FRESH START, directed by ADENA VARNER
KEENYA JACKSON with BOTANICALS, directed by NY’EA REYNOLDS
Why do the stories of Black Parents and caregivers matter?
Share your story with us and we will featured you on our social media!
Meet the team that's making the Black Motherhood and Parenting Festival happen.
Our Story
Blackboard Plays and Parent Artist Advocacy League (PAAL) partner to uplift the experiences of Black Parenthood. The Black Motherhood and Parenting New Play Festival was established to tell stories from and about Black artists with families.
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PAAL and Blackboard are committed to a Black Exclusive Budget (BEB) for every budget line item; they will be funding only Black artists in the development and execution of the project (with the exception of the honorariums given to actors in accordance to casting requirements, if necessary).
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Dismantling systemic racism through art requires the creation of platforms and opportunities to tell stories that illuminate the reality, obstacles, pain, joy, celebration, humor, revelation, and even mundane aspects of the human experience lived by BIPOC individuals.
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This new festival is our response to create storytelling representation through art.
News & Stories
Men from all parts of the industry join us for a dynamic conversation on being a father in the theatre.
Meet Our Semi-Finalists
Meet the incredible playwrights who are semi-finalists in this year's festival
From casting to stage management, we've got opportunities for all kinds of theatre professionals. Visit the OPPORTUNITIES page and connect with our team to learn more.
Women from all parts of the industry join us for a dynamic conversation on being a mother in the theatre