Alice Childress

Follow an experienced Black stage actress through rehearsals of a major Broadway production in Alice Childress’s funny, moving, and ultimately shattering look at racism, identity, and ego in the high-stakes world of New York theatre. A scathing indictment of racism in American commercial theatre, Trouble in Mind tells the story of Wiletta Mayer, a Black actress cast in a supposedly “progressive” play about racism by a white male author—it turns out to be anything but progressive.

7/10
6.9%

A radical satire of racism in theatre In 1950s America, protests for racial equality erupt in the face of voter suppression. On Broadway, Wiletta Mayer, a talented black actress, begins rehearsals for a new play about racism – written and directed by two white men. When Wiletta finds that her arguments to tell the truth of the story are dismissed, she decides to take action. First staged over 60 years ago, Trouble in Mind is widely considered the masterpiece of actress and playwright Alice Childress. Nancy Medina directs Tanya Moodie (Motherland) in this wry and radical satire of racism in theatre.

Faced with the harsh reality of growing up in the ghetto, 13-year old Benjie (Larry B. Scott) turns to heroin to escape. After Benjie hits rock bottom, his mother (Cicely Tyson) and her boyfriend (Paul Winfield) must sacrifice to help him overcome his dependency. Directed by Ralph Nelson, this heartwarming drama tackles the battle of a troubled youth, his struggles with addiction, and the impact felt by those around him.

6.9/10

A drama which examines the enduring nature of love between a white man and a black woman in 1918 South Carolina.