About the Play
Set against the backdrop of the 1964 Harlem race riots, Wine in the Wilderness centers on Bill, an artist creating a triptych on Black womanhood. He intends to use Tommy, a working-class woman, as a model for the “messed-up chick,” the negative image in his art, unbeknownst to her. Tommy soon discovers this fact, leading to a confrontation that challenges Bill’s shallow assumptions about class, identity, and the perceptions of Black women within his own community. Through their interactions, the characters are forced to reevaluate their notions of beauty and worth, culminating in a powerful affirmation of Black female humanity.
Meet the Cast
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Corbin Griffin
As Bill Jameson
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Nina Washington
As Cynthia
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Kenny Ray Williams
As Sonny-man
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Cynfranesia Brooks
As Tommy
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Tyrone Beasley
As Oldtimer
About the Playwright
Alice Childress (1916-1994) was a pioneering African American playwright, actress, and novelist, recognized as the "only African-American woman to have written, produced, and published plays for four decades". Her work was a part of the "new realism" movement, focusing on the authentic portrayal of Black women and working-class life, challenging stereotypes, and addressing complex social issues such as racism and gender roles. A notable achievement was her play Trouble in Mind, for which she became the first African American woman to win an Obie Award in 1956, cementing her legacy as a trailblazer committed to artistic integrity and social justice.
SHOWTIMES:
Friday February 20th, 7 p.m.
Saturday February 21st, 7 p.m.
Sunday February 22nd, 4 p.m.
Thursday February 26th, 7 p.m.
Friday February 27th, 7 p.m.
Saturday February 28th, 7 p.m.
Sunday March 1st, 4 p.m.
Thursday March 5th, 7 p.m.
Friday March 6th, 7 p.m.
Saturday March 7th, 7 p.m.
Sunday March 8th, 4 p.m.
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