What Black plays and comedy shows are running during Black History Month?
There is plenty variety among Black productions and comedy shows running in Columbus during Black History Month. See if any of the following performances inspire deep thought or tickle your funny bone.
'Snowville Cafe'
MadLab Theatre, 227 S. Third St.
Details: MadLab Theatre will present the world premiere of the drama by Columbus playwright Julie Whitney-Scott, founder of the Columbus Black Theatre Festival. Scott’s play, directed by James Blackmon, revolves around a Black couple and the Columbus restaurant that they built together.
Times: 8 p.m. Feb. 2-4, Feb. 10-11 and Feb. 17-18
Admission: $18, or $15 for students and senior citizens, $13 for members
Contact: 614-221-5418, madlab.net
'Intimate Apparel'
Jewish Community Center’s Roth/Resler Theatre, 1125 College Ave.
Details: Gallery Players will present the Greater Columbus premiere of the Outer Critics Circle Award-winner for outstanding off-Broadway play. The best-known work by two-time-Pulitzer-winning playwright Lynn Nottage (“Ruined” and “Sweat”) revolves around love, longing and betrayal, and features a hard-working Black seamstress and an orthodox Jewish shop owner in 1905 New York.
Times: 7 p.m. Feb. 4, Feb. 9 and Feb. 11; and 2 p.m. Feb. 5 and Feb. 12
Admission: $20
Contact: 614-559-6238, columbusjcc.org/gallery-players
'Slave Play'
Garden Theater, 1187 N. High St.
Details: Short North Stage will present the regional premiere of the provocative Broadway play by Black queer playwright Jeremy O. Harris’ (“Euphoria”). Nominated for 12 Tony awards, including best play, the two-hour drama rethinks history in the antebellum South as couples therapy for three modern mixed-race couples to illuminate power, trauma, race, gender and sexuality in today’s America. While some have criticized the production's content and effectiveness, others have praised the work. Talkbacks will follow Sunday performances.
Times: 7 p.m. Thursdays through Fridays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Feb. 19
Admission: $45.71 to $55.24
Contact: cbusarts.com
Jay Pharoah
Funny Bone Comedy Club, 145 Easton Town Center
Details: The comedian-actor, a former six-season cast member of “Saturday Night Live,” is known for a variety of celebrity impressions (from Barack Obama and Denzel Washington to Will Smith and Kanye West). Pharoah, who starred in the Showtime sitcom “White Famous,” currently plays recurring roles on Fox’s “Family Guy” and ABC’s “A Million Little Things.”
Times: 7:45 and 10:15 p.m. Feb. 3, and 7 and 9:45 p.m. Feb. 4
Admission: $37 to $47
Contact: 614-471-5653, columbus.funnybone.com
Affirmative Distraction
Funny Bone Comedy Club, 145 Easton Town CenterDetails: The 5-year-old, 11-member ensemble of Black comedians, billed as Columbus’ first all-Black improv troupe and co-founded by producer Joseph Moorer, will present an evening of improvisational comedy. The show will offer a fresh mix of comedy styles, jokes, stories and characters in the spirit of “Who’s Line Is It Anyway?” and “Wild 'N Out.” Local entertainer Brian Penn will be a special guest.
Times: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16
Admission: $32
Contact: 614-471-5653, columbus.funnybone.com
Dispatch features editor Erica Thompson contributed to this story.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Black plays and comedy shows running during Black History Month
