In commemoration of Juneteenth, Park Avenue Armory partners with National Black Theatre (NBT) to uplift the work and impact of NBT founder Dr. Barbara Ann Teer as well as the ways she and many others serve as hidden architects of culture to help empower society, drive innovation, and foster community and social impact.

Harlem Soapbox leads audiences on a journey into the music of the 1960’s and the Black Arts movement with a sonic mash-up of some of the songs that helped to power and inspire the social movements of that time. Archivist and filmmaker Steven Fullwood explores the crafting of the AfroFuture and National Black Theatre’s contribution to the theatrical and cultural canon with queen of funk Nona Hendryx and NBT CEO Sade Lythcott. And a second panel explores poet, playwright, and essayist June Jordan’s legacy and impact on architecture as it relates to the lives of Black families and communities as well as architectural, cultural, and civic renewal through built space with artist and cultural strategist Ebony Noelle Golden, writer and manager of McArthur Binion’s studio Camille Bacon, and poet Mahogany L. Browne.

Additional activations offer a glimpse into new exhibitions and works in progress from National Black Theatre studio artists, including experimental theater maker nicHi douglas, dancer and writer Jerron Herman, director and producer Awoye Timpo, and original compositions by sound designers/composers Aaron Marcellus, Mikaal Sulaiman, Holland Andrews, JOJO ABOT, and Justin Hicks shared in a botanical meditative space. This happening also includes a live silent disco with DJ Stormin’ Norman; a selection of original films curated and commissioned by National Black Theatre, and a Trans Liberation pageant led and created by Qween Jean, costume designer and founder of Black Trans Liberation.

Program Overview

The Theme Is Blackness by Ed Bullins (1996)

To commemorate the event, the Classix team presented an interpretation of the Ed Bullins play The Theme Is Blackness.

This conceptual performance piece takes inspiration from West African philosophy, which emphasized a non-objective and participatory approach to the arts. In the original 1966 production, Chebo Evan's Third World Three Black music trio improvised jazz against a background of rattling chains, moans, and groans while performers crept under seats and grabbed at people's ankles. The play asks its audience to think of Blackness as removed from the physical body, and instead view Blackness in space.

For this iteration the Classix team invited actor/performer Kareem Lucas to read the text of the play. Over the course of the afternoon the piece was performed three times with a different musical performer for each round.

Cast

Actor: Kareem Lucas

Musicians: Michael Love (tap), Mimi Jones (cello), Arminda Thomas (banjo)