On Thursday, August 20th, and Friday, August 21st, members of the Works by Women community gathered to attend two fantastic productions by female playwrights of color at the New Brooklyn Theatre. 

Las Meninas by Lynn Nottage is the story of the love affair between Louis XIV’s wife Queen Marie-Thérèse and Nabo, her African servant as told through the imagination of their illegitimate daughter.

Rachel by Angelina Weld Grimke takes us inside the home of a family attempting to cope with the aftermath of the lynching of a father and son. In a year when the streets ring with chants of “Black Lives Matter,” RACHEL asks us to feel the quiet pain of a young black woman who doubts whether she can bear to bring more lives into a violent world.

One of our fabulous interns, Travis Amiel, reflects on his experience attending the productions:

"Last Thursday, marked the return of Works by Women “Play” Dates … then the next day we had another! New Brooklyn Theatre’s (NBT) productions of LAS MENINAS and RACHEL made for a fascinating contrast: both plays by women of color, featuring women of color protagonists that are silenced and anguishing. Both nights, the talk-backs provided brilliant insight into the meaning, relevance, and background of these productions. They were probably the best, most successful, and helpful post-show discussions I’ve ever experienced. NBT is inspiring to me not just because their mission is to produce free theatre that voices the unheard, but because of how deeply satisfying my two evenings at the Irondale were."

Both productions run until August 29th and tickets are going fast - don't miss out!

Further info here.