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A special thank you to BSBV Sponsors:

jessie ball dupont fund

Black Stories Black Voices

“Our mission is to tell and amplify Black stories and Black voices through playwriting, acting and all theatrical disciplines. With BSBV, we hope to help shine a light on the richness of the Black experience in the Appalachian region, and for this region, with plays, readings, and community engagement opportunities such as our post show events during our main stage season and our annual SHINE: Illuminating Black Stories event. Below you will be able to read more about our initiative, see our upcoming events, and find resources about our playwriting submissions.”

– Terrance Jackson, Director of Outreach & Barter’s Black Stories Black Voices

TELL ME MORE ABOUT …

EVENTS BY BLACK STORIES BLACK VOICES

More events coming soon!

PAST EVENTS GALLERY

THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION Community Event (Summer 2024)

SHINE: Illuminating Black Stories (Spring 2024)

Play Reading of TRAINS by Quinton Cockrell (Fall 2023)

SKELETON CREW Community Event (Summer 2023)

Play Reading of THE TRANSPORTED MAN by Russell Nichols (Spring 2023)

BSBV PRESS & PUBLICATIONS

July 23, 2024

Terrance Jackson of Barter Theatre Honored by 400 Years of African American History Commission 

May 22, 2024

A Heart Behind Bars: Preparing for THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION

February 21, 2024

Barter’s Black Stories Black Voices throws its 1st Community Event of 2024!

March 14, 2023

PBS NewsHour Features Barter Theatre!

WRITING RESOURCES & SUBMISSIONS

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

BSBV’S MONOLOGUE COMPETITION

It is our hope that by connecting Black playwrights (wherever they are located) with stories from Black Appalachian communities, we can:

  • Create monologues that can be developed into full-length plays
  • Create work that explores the Black Appalachian experience, both past and present
  • Establish and cultivate relationships with Black playwrights and other Black theatre artists
  • Give audiences accessibility to new perspectives on life in Appalachia

2-3 monologues will be selected to be performed at our 4th Annual SHINE: Illuminating Black Stories, in February 2025.

Monologue Submission Guidelines
  • Playwright must be Black.
  • Monologues must be set in Appalachia. (Click Here list of qualifying states/counties as defined by the Appalachian Regional Commission)
  • Monologues must be 3-5 minutes in length.

  • Monologues must be unpublished and not have had a professional production.
  • Monologues must be submitted electronically.
  • Monologues must be written using selected prompts, viewable here.

Deadline for 4th Annual SHINE Submissions: November 1st, 2024

Please submit monologues to: tjackson@bartertheatre.com

Full Length Play Submission Guidelines
  • Playwright must be Black.
  • Plays must be written by an Appalachian playwright or the plays must be set in the Appalachian Region.  (Click here for list of qualifying states/counties as defined by the Appalachian Regional Commission.)
  • Plays must be full length.
  • Plays must be unpublished and not have had a professional production.
  • Plays must be submitted electronically.

Deadline for 2025 Submissions: CLOSED

Please submit plays to: apfestival@bartertheatre.com

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