New Manifest Theatre Company (NMTC) returns in their 4th season with BLKS by Aziza Barnes in partnership with Salvage Vanguard from June 16 to July 3, 2022 at Rogge Ranch House. 

NMTC returns with their first production back in person since March 2020. Producing BLKS by Aziza Barnes in conjunction with Juneteenth and Pride month celebrations. Directed by NMTC ensemble member Faith Anderson in their first full length production directorial debut. 

Before select performances, New Manifest will partner with community organizations to present a creators market to welcome more audiences. After select performances, they will partner with collaborators and community partners to host post-show discussions that address the intersection of the Black community, queerness and mental/physical health. 

“When this piece was first presented to me, I had so many feels. I was angry, sad, cackling, and exhausted,” Director Faith Anderson said. “For my first time directing a full length show, I accepted the challenge of presenting a piece that examines a number of intimate conversations within the Black community. As you’ll observe from these characters, laughter, drugs, alcohol, sex, and conflict are coping mechanisms many use to numb the cruel reality that we are not protected in this country…so what do we do? How do we heal?” 

In partnership with Salvage Vanguard Theater, BLKS continues to strengthen the company’s mission and intentionality of productions they chose to produce at a specific time. 

“This story centers 20-something black queer friends and New Manifest will be pairing with community partners to help make the impact of this show effective for the folks this show is made and being produced for,” Producing Artistic Director, Simone Alexander explained. “We are presenting this show at Salvage Vanguard Theatre’s Rogge Ranch House location creating a welcoming and untraditional interactive theatre setting and offering pre and post show programming after select performances.”

BLKS

When: June 16 - July 3, 2022
Where: Rogge Ranch House, 3506 Rogge Lane
Tickets: $15, limited amount of Pay What You Can tickets per performance newmanifest.org