Harlem9, Harlem Stage, and The Lucille Lortel Theatre (co-producers) have set in motion “CONSEQUENCES” – an inaugural commissioned writers’ development and digital programming series for BIPOC creatives. Harriet Tubman said “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”
Focusing on finding and nurturing new voices, the first thematic installment of CONSEQUENCES is to demonstrate how the consequences of elections impact the writer, their community, or their country, given the current and constantly changing cultural, social, and political landscape.
The open call for submissions for the next installment of the Consequences anthology series will be announced in the coming months.
In a joint statement, the co-producers said, “In an unprecedented time in our country, three performing arts institutions, Harlem9, Harlem Stage, and The Lucille Lortel Theatre, have come together to empower BIPOC creatives in the United States to help reflect the nation we see unfolding in front of us.
Through newly commissioned, original works showcased in an accessible digital programming series, this inaugural collaboration will provide a storytelling platform for BIPOC artists whose work continues to be sorely undervalued – and underrepresented – in the arts.
Whether online, on the stage, or through other artistic mediums, we will continue to honor our organizations’ founding missions to create opportunities to elevate the voices that must be heard, champion the stories that must be told, and serve diverse audiences.”
To kick off the CONSEQUENCES series, writer York Walker will premiere his original work online on Monday, January 25. Titled, Asé, Walker’s piece examines racial sensitivity in the workplace during the Trump era, amid the 2020 election. It focuses on the tension that
builds between a white executive and her black assistant, and how “diversity training” are being used as a cure-all fix rather than to address deeper systemic challenges and racial injustices.
York Walker is an award-winning writer based in Harlem, New York. He is the inaugural recipient of the Vineyard Theatre’s Colman Domingo Award, where he is currently an artist in residence. He is also a member of Marcus Gardley’s New Wave Writers’ Workshop. His work includes The Séance (winner of the John Singleton Short Film Competition, Seance (48Hours in…™Harlem), Covenant (Fire This Time Festival, Access Theatre’s 4 Flights Up Festival),
White Shoes (Fire This Time Festival), Summer Of ’63 (The Actors Company Theatre’s New TACTics Festival, Actors Theatre of Louisville’s Apprentice Reading Series) and Of Dreams To Come (American Conservatory Theatre’s New Work Series). York received his MFA in Acting from the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco.
Applications will be accepted beginning Wednesday, January 6, 2021, for original digital works (15 minutes in length or less) by those authorized to work in the U.S. (18+ years of age), with a submission deadline of Monday, February 8, 2021. Female identifying, LGBTQIA+, and gender non-conforming applicants are highly encouraged. If selected, writers will receive a commissioning fee. The development of the digital work will follow the Harlem9 methodology, and the selected writers will work directly with an assigned member of the Harlem9 team.
The selected writers will be announced on Monday, March 1, 2021, with their piece premiering on YouTube as a free, online presentation in April 2021 and May 2021, respectively. (Exact premiere dates, to be announced. )
For full eligibility information, FAQs, application requirements, and to submit original work for CONSEQUENCES, please visit www.lortel.org/consequences.
“CONSEQUENCES” CO-PRODUCERS HARLEM9 was founded in 2010, OBIE award-winning Harlem9 is a collaborative producing organization, comprised of a group of 6 Black theater professionals ( Spencer Scott Barros, Sandra A. Daley-Sharif, Bryan E. Glover, Garlia Cornelia Jones, Eric Lockley, and Jonathan McCrory) from various backgrounds. Their mission is to produce together, exploring the past, present and future of black culture, celebrating its rich and diverse history of storytelling.
For more information, visit www.harlem9.org .
Harlem Stage is the performing arts center that bridges Harlem’s cultural legacy to contemporary artists of color and dares to provide the artistic freedom that gives birth to new ideas. For nearly 40 years Harlem Stage has stood at the intersection of art and social justice with a singular mission to perpetuate and celebrate the unique and diverse artistic legacy of Harlem and the indelible impression it has made on American culture. They provide opportunity, commissioning, and support for artists of color, make performances easily accessible to all
audiences and introduce children to the rich diversity, excitement, and inspiration of the performing arts. For more information, visit: www.harlemstage.org
The Lucille Lortel Theatre’s mission is to sustain and advance Off-Broadway by creating awareness, appreciation, and encouraging the continued growth of Off-Broadway; assisting with theatrical infrastructure and capacity building, and developing educational programs fostering the next generation of theatre-makers. The Theatre has several major programs, including the Lucille Lortel Awards and Playwrights’ Sidewalk, Internet Off-Broadway Database (IOBDB.com), Non-Profit Theatre Strategic and Management Services, Live at The Lortel video interview and podcast series, NYC Public High School Playwriting Fellowship, Subsidized Theatre Space, and Fellowships in Theatre with Bennington College. For more information, visit www.lortel.org.
The submission deadline is Monday, February 8, 2021. Selected writers announced on Monday, March 1, 2021 for original works premiering online in April/May 2021.
For more information visit www.lortel.org/consequences .
