From Feb. 9 to Feb. 21, New York's Ensemble Studio Theatre will devote its space to the work of African-American women playwrights. Pearl Cleage, Nancy Files and Elizabeth Van Dyke are among the dramatists who will receive staged readings over the two-week festival, called "Going to the River."
The performance schedule is as follows:
Feb. 9 & 10 at 8 PM: Fast Blood by Judy Tate
Feb. 11 & 12 at 8 PM: Only in America by Aishah Rahman
Feb. 13 at 2 PM and Feb. 14 at 8 PM: Maiden Lane by Cassandra Medley
Feb. 13 at 8 PM and Feb. 14 at 2 PM: Aunt Jemina: A Menstrual Show by Breena Clarke and Glenda Dickerson
Feb. 16 & 17 at 8 PM: Black Comedy: The Wacky Side of Racism by Nancy Giles
Feb. 18 & 19 at 8 PM: Shakin' the Mess Outta Misery by Shay Youngblood
Feb. 20 at 8 PM & Feb. 21 at 2 PM: Flyin' West by Pearl Cleage
Cleage, the author of Blues for an Alabama Sky is probably the best-known writer of the group. Medley wrote Dearborn Heights , previously presented at EST. Van Dyke appeared as an actress in Zora Neale Hurston.
For information, call (212) 237-4982.
-- By Robert Simonson