Watch the 2021 #BMP Festival on YouTube

THIRTY Written by: Melda Beaty Directed by: Dawn Monique Williams Featuring: Pat Bowie LaKeisha Randle Nikkole Salter Dee Selmore Trailer: Katiana Weems - Editor and Gabrielle Henderson - Audio ___ ABOUT THIRTY An explosive look at a family generation of Black women caregivers grappling with family secrets. THIRTY is the third new work in the 1st Annual Black Motherhood and Parenting New Play Festival, a partnership between Blackboard Plays and PAAL , the Parent Artist Advocacy League. This play is made possible because of a partnership with the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. THIRTY Streams from Thursday, June 3, 2021 at 7pm EST/ 6pm CST / 4pm PST to Monday, June 7th at 7pm EST/ 6pm CST / 4pm PST. Purchase your Digital pass and Stream at bmpfest.veeps.com PAAL and Blackboard established #BMPFest to showcase the creative output of Black parent playwrights. They issued an open call in October 2020 for writers who identify as Black parents or caregivers to submit up to 10 pages of work that they would develop into a one-act. For more information on the festival visit: bit.ly/bmpinfo ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT: MELDA BEATY is a passionate playwright, author, and assistant professor who resides in Chicago, Illinois with her three gifted daughters. Melda has written five stage plays and a short film. Her first play, Front Porch Society, enjoyed a world premiere at The Ensemble Theatre in Houston, TX and was a finalist for Best New Plays by Houston Press. She is also a freelance contributor to Black Masks magazine and the author of two books. Her latest play is an epic exploration of 19th century sterilization laws in America and the impact on Black women. Melda earned her B.A. in Broadcast Communications at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her M.A. in English at Illinois State University. https://meldacreates.com/ ⠀

In May of 2021, the Black mother Artistic leaders from 3 out of 4 of the #BMPFest Partner Theatres gathered to discuss Black motherhood as part of the 1st Annual Black Motherhood and Parenting New Play Festival, a collaboration between Blackboard Plays and the Parent Artist Advocacy League (PAAL). The conversation was led by Nicole Brewer, Anti-Racist Theatre Advocate, Director, and PAAL Board Member and included: Nataki Garrett, Artistic Director of Oregon Shakespeare Festival; Garlia Cornelia Jones, Blackboard Founder and PAAL Producing Director; Hana Sharif, The Augustin Family Artistic Director of the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis; and Teresa Coleman Wash, Founder and Executive Artistic Director of Bishop Arts Theatre Center. #BMPFest is about creating and carving out space for our stories as Black parents. Donate to Support the Festival here: https://bit.ly/bmpfestgive The Inaugural festival dates were May 20 - June 14, 2021 ENCORE WEEK was June 17 - 21, 2021 During ENCORE WEEK, all 4 plays were streamed back to back for 96 hours ONLY - Tickets and the Digital Stream were here: https://bmpfest.veeps.com Donate to Support the Festival here: https://bit.ly/bmpfestgive

In May of 2021, the Black mother Artistic leaders from 3 out of 4 of the #BMPFest Partner Theatres gathered to discuss Black motherhood as part of the 1st Annual Black Motherhood and Parenting New Play Festival, a collaboration between Blackboard Plays and the Parent Artist Advocacy League (PAAL). The conversation was led by Nicole Brewer, Anti-Racist Theatre Advocate, Director and PAAL Board Member and included: Nataki Garrett, Artistic Director of Oregon Shakespeare Festival Garlia Cornelia Jones, Blackboard Founder and PAAL Producing Director Hana Sharif, The Augustin Family Artistic Director of the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis Teresa Coleman Wash, Founder and Executive Artistic Director of Bishop Arts Theatre Center #BMPFest is about creating and carving out space for our stories as Black parents. The Festival dates are May 20 - June 14, 2021 ENCORE WEEK is June 17 - 21, 2021 During ENCORE WEEK, all 4 plays will be streamed back to back for 96 hours ONLY - Hurry before it's too late!

Oregon Shakespeare Festival Artistic Director, Nataki Garrett introduces "Justin's Side" by Eureka Lewis, as part of the Inaugural Black Motherhood and Parenting New Play Festival. "Justin's Side" is made possible in partnership with Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Nataki also shares her journey as a Black mother. We are highlighting Black parents and their journey along the way. Don't miss "Justin's Side" from May 20 - 24, 2021. Stream at http://bmpfest.veeps.com PAAL and Blackboard established #BMPFest to showcase the creative output of Black parent playwrights. They issued an open call in October 2020 for writers who identify as Black parents or caregivers to submit up to 10 pages of work that they would develop into a one-act. Each week from May 20 through June 14, one of the plays will stream at bmpfest.veeps.com. Each play streams for 96 hours from 7pm EST/ 6pm CST / 4pm PST on their opening Thursday night to 7pm EST/ 6pm CST / 4pm PST on their closing Monday night. Captions will be provided for all performances. Ticket prices begin at $10. Proceeds from the festival will fund a PAAL/Blackboard Plays Childcare Grant for a Black Playwright Parent.

Cynthia Grace Robinson's "WHAT IF...?" premiered during Week 2 of the Black Motherhood and Parenting New Play Festival or #BMPFest from May 27 - 31, 2021. Blackboard Reading Series Founder and Parent Artist Advocacy League - PAAL for Performing Arts Producing Director, Garlia Cornelia Jones interviewed each of the Festival's 4 Playwrights. Learn more about #BMPFest here: bit.ly/bmpinfo and Contribute to the Grant being created for a Black Parent Playwright. Blackboard Plays and PAAL created the #BMPFest to support the stories from Black Parent Playwrights.

Eureka Lewis' play, "Justin's Side" premiered as part of the Black Motherhood and Parenting New Play Festival or #BMPFest from May 20 - 24, 2021. Blackboard Reading Series Founder and Parent Artist Advocacy League - PAAL for Performing Arts Producing Director, Garlia Cornelia Jones interviewed each of the Festivals 4 Playwrights. Learn more about #BMPFest here: bit.ly/bmpinfo and Contribute to the Grant being created for a Black Parent Playwright. Blackboard Plays and PAAL created the #BMPFest to support the stories from Black Parent Playwrights.

We're back! For 96 Hours ONLY ! From Thursday, June 17th at 7pm EST/ 6pm CST / 4pm PST - Monday, June 21st at 7pm EST / 6pm CST / 4pm PST If you missed any of the 4 streams in our festival, you have ONE FINAL CHANCE to support this work by Black parent playwrights. Our 4 Plays and Partner Theatres: "Justin's Side" by Eureka Lewis - Oregon Shakespeare Festival "WHAT IF...?" by Cynthia Grace Robinson - Bishop Arts Theatre Center "THIRTY" by Melda Beaty - The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis "The Break" by Julie Taiwo Oni - Detroit Public Theatre ABOUT #BMPFest: PAAL and Blackboard established #BMPFest to showcase the creative output of Black parent playwrights. They issued an open call in October 2020 for writers who identify as Black parents or caregivers to submit up to 10 pages of work that they would develop into a one-act. A review committee consisting of Martha Redbone, Tamara Anderson, and Sacha Wynne selected four finalists to make up the festival’s lineup. Each of the finalists—Melda Beaty, Eureka Lewis, Julie Taiwo Oni, and Cynthia Grace Robinson—has been paired with a partner theatre. PURCHASE your Tickets here for our ENCORE WEEK: https://bmpfest.veeps.com Support the Grant for a Black Parent Playwright here: https://bit.ly/bmpgive

JUSTIN’S SIDE Written by: Eureka Lewis Directed by: Ellen Valencia Featuring: Troi Coleman Alvin Christmas Ezra Knight Trailer: Katiana Weems - Editor and Gabrielle Henderson - Audio ___ ABOUT JUSTIN’S SIDE A typical day at Roman Middle School takes a drastic turn when an incident amongst classmates warrants a parent/principal meeting. JUSTIN’S SIDE opens the 1st Annual Black Motherhood and Parenting New Play Festival, a partnership between Blackboard Plays and PAAL , the Parent Artist Advocacy League. This play is made possible because of a partnership with Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Justin’s Side Streams from Thursday, May 20, 2021 at 7pm EST/ 6pm CST / 4pm PST to Monday, May 24th at 7pm EST/ 6pm CST / 4pm PST. Purchase your Digital pass and Stream at bmpfest.veeps.com PAAL and Blackboard established #BMPFest to showcase the creative output of Black parent playwrights. They issued an open call in October 2020 for writers who identify as Black parents or caregivers to submit up to 10 pages of work that they would develop into a one-act. For more information on the festival visit: bit.ly/bmpinfo ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT: EUREKA LEWIS Eureka Lewis resides in New York, but is a native of Detroit, MI. She's written & directed numerous plays, including (but not limited to) "Sorry If I Let You Down", "Aunt Salley's Remains", "Finally Made It", "Too Far To The Left", "The Jagged Rose" & a 10-week run of "What They'll Remember"; which received rave reviews in The Huffington Post & Broadway World. From hundreds of entries, she was twice selected a featured writer for Billie Holiday Theatre's "50IN50" writer’s series.⠀ ⠀ Her onstage credits began over thirty years ago at The Hilberry Studio Theater of @theatreanddanceatwayne , Wayne State University, in "Portraits In Black". She's also had lead or pivotal roles in "Tambourines To Glory", "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope", "God's Trombones", "For Colored Girls", "Raisin In The Sun", "In The City", "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show" & "Herstory" to name a select few.⠀ ⠀ Eureka believes writing is one of the greatest platforms to evoke change.⠀ ⠀