BLACK NO MORE: A NEW-AGE MUSICAL FROM A BLACK RENAISSANCE PERSPECTIVE

The Off-Broadway wonder that is Black No More opened recently to positive reviews.  The Afrofuturistic offering, inspired by the 1931 novel of the same name by George S. Schuyler, is a satirized view of race relations in a Harlem Renaissance-set America.  

Co-written by Tariq Trotter (better known to the hip hop sphere as Black Thought) and adapted from a book by Academy Award winner John Ridley (of 12 Years A Slave fame), this play covers much ground.  Billed as a musical, you have Trotter, fellow Roots Crew member James Poyser, Anthony Tidd and Daryl Waters bringing the melodic noise.  Black Thought also provides the lyrical firepower for Black No More.  Two-time Tony Award winner Bill T. Jones brings his choreographic expertise to this auspicious production.  

Max Disher, played by Brandon Victor Dixon, is the central character that has utilized the services of  Junius Crookman (Tariq Trotter), seeking to transform from Black to Caucasian through a mystery machine.  Through song and dance, The New Group performed, enacted and portrayed a very pertinent message with this recent run from January 20th through February 27th.  I am looking forward to the powers that be to recognize the power of this musical and bring it to Broadway.   Read more about Black No More via the links below.  I know you won't be disappointed.

https://www.npr.org/2022/02/14/1080160459/black-no-more-machine-musical-tariq-trotter

https://thenewgroup.org/production/black-no-more/