National Black Theatre FestivalCredit Kathryn Mobley / WFDD
June 4, 2013
Performers from around the world will entertain people in the Triad for six days and nights.
Winston-Salem will host the National Black Theatre Festival (NBTF)
July 29-August 3. During the week, more than 100 shows will be
performed across the city. Tickets are now on sale and range between $8
and $45. Executive Producer, Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin, is the wife of the
festival's founder, the late Larry Leon Hamlin. She says this biennial
event has a strong economic impact on Winston-Salem because it attracts
thousands of people from across the country to the city, and all of them
spend money staying in the hotels, eating at restaurants, renting cars
and shopping. "In 2011, we had an economic impact of nearly $10
million," says Sprinkle-Hamlin. "Also, we love having the festival in
Winston-Salem because it is The City of the Arts. So
we’re bringing great, professional theater to this community. These
shows deal with the real challenges of life in ways people of all
racial, economic and personal background will be able to relate to.”
Artistic Director Mabel Robinson agrees. “It’s important we bring in
from around the world artists, technicians, singers and dancers,
directors and playwrights here so they can appreciate their similarities
and differences to create unique experiences that audiences will
remember for a lifetime,” explains Robinson. “The festival is a vehicle
to a reunion of spirit that I believe Winston-Salem is open to
receiving.”
A star-studded gala will kick off the biennial event at
the M.C. Benton Convention Center. It will be followed by the opening
show, The Eve of Jackie: A Tribute to Jackie Wilson. Broadway dancer, singer and performer, Chester Gregory, returns
with a portrayal of this American musical icon whose career spanned the
late 1950's through 1975. "This is the last full concert Wilson did
before his career abruptly ends," says Gregory. "And during it, he
reveals some very personal things." Gregory debuted on the NBTF stage in
2001 and he says it’s very special to him. "In 2001, we got to headline
the festival with The Jackie Wilson Story. It was an awesome experience
and I got a chance to meet the incredible Larry Leon Hamlin,” explains
Gregory. “One night, he (Hamlin) spoke a powerful word into my life.
Hamlin said, 'In 2003 you won’t be able to come to the festival because
you’ll be on Broadway.' That was true, because in 2003 I was cast in
Hair Spray on Broadway in the role of Sea Weed.” Gregory performed in
that show for 2 1/2 years. The show he’s bringing to Winston-Salem will
run in the University of North Carolina School of the Arts Steven’s
Center for five nights.
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