Black Nativity

By Langston Hughes

Directed by Jo Bunton Keel

Playing in the Nickelson Auditorium

Black Nativity, the joyous holiday musical, is a modern retelling of the traditional account of the Nativity story from an African American perspective. Using gospel music, African beats, dramatic dance, and a biblical narrative Black Nativity opened for a limited run of 57 performances at Broadway's 41st St. Theatre on December 11, 1961. It was written and conceived by one of the legendary leaders of the Harlem Renaissance: Black playwright, poet, novelist, and social activist Langston Hughes.