It takes a larger-than-life character to fill a stage by himself.

Akin Babatunde and Nate Jacobs pull it off smashingly.

The play Reunion in Bartersville may deal with the ugly subject of murder, but the only real emotional danger to be had is laughing too hard.

Potpourri Noir, which opened Tuesday night, provided a glimpse of four productions that will be performed throughout the week in the Drama Workshop Theatre at Salem College.
The spirited collection of shows is master-minded by Rhodessa Jones and Idris Ackamoor. Both have too many talents to list, but to name a few: They write, direct, act, dance, play a mindboggling array of musical instruments, and serve as charming hosts.

Twenty years after it opened the first National Black Theatre Festival, Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope is back. It opened Monday night at the Stevens Center.

Old Salem and the National Black Theatre Festival will present a video and discussion about 250 years of Africans and African-Americans in the Winston-Salem community Wednesday.

The video is a one-man show “Popa C.W. Brown and the Black Moravians,” performed by festival founder Larry Leon Hamlin. Hamlin died in 2007. Old Salem archaeologist Michael O. Hartley and researcher Martha B. Hartley will lead the discussion after the video is show. The event begins at 10:30 a.m. at St. Philips Moravian Church, 911 S. Church St. Those with a ticket stub to the free event will receive half-price admission to Old Salem Museum and Gardens.

Click here to see a trailer for the video.

The purple carpet was laid out, purple balloons blown up and the Carver High School marching band could be heard throughout downtown Winston-Salem.

PHOTOS: National Black Theatre Festival Opening Night Gala

The mood today at the opening-day press conference for the National Black Theatre Festival was decidedly upbeat.

The press conference had the feeling of a comeback season getting under way.

Executive Director Gerry Patton speaks with the Journal’s Paul Garber about what’s new for this year’s festival

Lafayette Baucum swung open the door to the Marriott Hotel yesterday, greeting visitors with a broad smile and a flourish that resembled a bow.

By Mary Giunca