Theatre Department to present ‘The Purple Flower & Other Plays’

Guest artists Khalid Hill and Ricardo Foster Jr. will take the stage along with student and alumni actors for “The Purple Flower & Other Plays,” an innovative production of African-American short plays. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, Feb. 18-21, and 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 22, in Robinson Hall’s Belk Theater.

Although awarded best new play by Crisis magazine in 1927, Marita Bonner’s Harlem Renaissance masterpiece “The Purple Flower” rarely has been seen on stage and was never performed during her lifetime.

This new production deconstructs Bonner’s original allegorical text and interweaves it with the visionary works of three other African-American authors: Paul Carter Harrison (“The Great MacDaddy”), Cherry Jackson (“In My Master’s House There are Many Mansions”) and Amiri Baraka (“The Toilet”). These voices from across the 20th century attempt to address the crisis of urban violence in America and how best to respond to manifestations of racism and oppression. The production contains adult content.

Hill is a professional artist who currently resides in Harlem, N.Y. He has trained in tap dancing for 30 years. His credits include the first national tour of “Bring in Da’ Noise, Bring in Da’ Funk,” under the direction of George Wolfe; “Invitations to a Dancer” with Savion Glover; a 2006 appearance on the Jerry Lewis Telethon in Las Vegas; “Cholesterol Low Down” (national tour) with Debbie Allen and Dick Clark; and “Bounce” (in Disney World).

Foster has been involved with the entertainment industry for more than 20 years as a dancer, choreographer, performer, actor, comedian and model. He has worked and performed with artists such as Jay-Z, Usher, Britney Spears, Wu-Tang and Beyoncé.

Tickets are $14 for general admission, $9 for seniors and UNC Charlotte faculty and staff and $6 for all students.