About BE
The Black Ensemble Theater (BE) celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2006! A local treasure, a national wonder and an international success best describe the dynamic organization that is the Black Ensemble Theater. Founded in 1976, by the phenomenal producer, playwright and actress Jackie Taylor, Black Ensemble Theater has grown from a small community arts organization to the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center.
The mission of the Black Ensemble Theater is to eradicate racism and its damaging effects upon our society through the utilization of theater arts. BE achieves its mission through productions and programs that perpetuate the history of the African American people, while reaching out to a cross-cultural audience and serving disenfranchised communities. The Black Ensemble Theater’s theatrical productions and educational outreach programs have been featured in the New York Times, The New York Post, Crain’s Chicago Business, Jet and Ebony, just to name a few. Some of our most popular productions include “The Jackie Wilson Story”, “The Other Cinderella” and “Don’t Make Me Over: In Tribute to Dionne Warwick”.
Realizing that the theater is a cultural treasure, the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois promote the work of the Black Ensemble Theater.
Five-Play Theater Season of Excellence
The only African American theater located in the culturally, racially and ethnically diverse north side Uptown community, BE’s audience demographics are 50 % African American, 40% Caucasian and 10% other races; and 70% female, 30% male.
Through its Five Play Season of Excellence, The Black Ensemble Theater dazzles audiences locally, nationally and internationally with outstanding original musicals that are entertaining, educational and uplifting. The Black Ensemble Theater has produced more than 100 productions and employed over 5,000 artists. Our productions consistently receive Joseph Jefferson, African American Arts Alliance of Chicago and Black Theater Alliance nominations and awards
Educational Outreach Programming
BE‘s educational outreach programs focus on low-income, underserved communities fostering more effective teaching and learning among our youth, their parents, their teachers, and the communities in which they live. Our educational outreach programming includes Strengthening The School Through Theater Arts, New Directions, Plays With A Purpose, Arts For Parents In School Communities, Theater For Special Women and Men, Summer Training in the Technical Arts and Community Access.
Black Playwrights Initiative
Begun in 2004, The Black Playwrights Initiative (BPI) is a huge success! BPI is a initiative to provide a continuum of scripts for the Black Ensemble Theater and increase and strengthen the pool of Chicago’s Black playwrights. We have 21 playwrights actively involved in this initiative, many of whom have written plays for the Black Ensemble Theater and other theater houses. BPI strengthens, enhances and promotes diverse writing styles. Each fall, BPI hosts a three-day Black Playwrights Festival which highlights the works of participating playwrights.
Black Ensemble Theater’s most recent accomplishments include:
| 2007: | The launching of our $20,000,000 capital campaign with legendary singer Dionne Warwick serving as our honorary national chairman. |
| 2007: | Jackie Taylor receives a Special Jeff Award for her contribution to theater in Chicago. |
| 2006: | The acquisition of a 57,000 square foot space as the future home of the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center. |
| 2005: | Selection as one of the 25 top major theaters in the country by the Encyclopedia Britannica Almanac |
