BLACK ENSEMBLE'S MISSION

MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Black Ensemble (BE) Theater is to eradicate racism and
its damaging effects on our society through the utilization of theater arts and
community engagement.

ABOUT BE
The Black Ensemble Theater, founded in 1976 by actress, producer, and
playwright Jackie Taylor, has grown from a small community-arts
organization to a vibrant, internationally renowned arts institution. A leader
and innovator in the arts community, BE Theater is recognized as one of the
most diverse theaters in the country, producing excellent theater and
outstanding, award-winning educational outreach programs.

BE is the only theater in the nation whose mission is to eradicate racism. We
use theater to bring diverse races together in a community that embraces
similarities and fosters dialogue, understanding, acceptance, and healing. BE
Theater delivers the authentic African-American voice, creating a
transformational gateway and bringing us all together. BE produces high quality,
impactful, innovative, and relevant productions that aim to dismantle
the foundation of racism.

In 2011, BE celebrated the grand opening of the Black Ensemble Theater
Cultural Center, the theater’s first permanent home, at 4450 N. Clark St., in
the heart of Chicago’s Uptown community.
Opening 2026!

Later this year Black Ensemble Theater will start construction on a new 150
seat flexible studio theater space within our current facility. The new theater
and adjacent rehearsal room will allow the theater to produce additional
original plays, cabaret style performances and other events. The new theater
will offer additional opportunities to support the Black Playwrights Inititiative.