Langston Hughes Black Nativity

Starts December 7 – December 16, 2012
Approximate running time: 2.5 hours with 1 intermission

Black Nativity is produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois.

John Ruffin directs the joyous account of a historic event that occurred over 2,000 years ago, the birth of Jesus Christ.

Black Nativity is a retelling of the classic Nativity story with an entirely black cast. Traditional Christmas carols are sung in gospel style, with a few songs created specifically for the show. Originally written by Langston Hughes, the show was first performed Off-Broadway on December 11, 1961, and was one of the first plays written by an African-American to be staged there. It has been performed in Boston, Massachusetts, at Tremont Temple since 1969. The original 160 singers were arranged by age group and vocal range, with an assortment of soloists, along with the narrator, and Mary and Joseph, who are both mute.