The Best Part of Night is Black follows a queer Black couple, as they struggle to survive the aftermath of a devastating loss. When their one-bedroom apartment becomes haunted by their past and present, their relationship is put to the test as they cling to hope despite grief, fear, and all the things no one prepares us for when falling in love.
*Friday, February 7th showtime will feature a Story Circle, where we invite Black queer and trans community members to share stories about finding love after loss. This Story Circle is inspired by our Queer (Re)public aesthetic of Unrealities which says, “this is how the spell works. We say what is real about our own lives. We mold the clay of what is into what we need, and glory at its beauty.”.
*Saturday, February 8th will feature a talkback with the playwright. in conversation with Paul Glass and Charles Edwards.
Masks are required for this event except while eating and drinking.
CONTENT WARNING
This production contains themes and scenes that may be distressing for some audience members, including: Domestic abuse and codependency, discussion of gore, murder, and death, depictions of narcissistic behavior and gaslighting.
Viewer discretion is advised. The content may not be suitable for all audiences. Please prioritize your well-being while engaging with this performance.
If you feel the need to step away at any point, our team is here to assist.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Ungrateful Black Artist (UGBA - 'oog ba') (Playwright, pronoun inclusive) is a queer poet, rapper, playwright, actor, and activist based out of Brooklyn, NY. UGBA is the founder/host of CEREMONIES-a Brooklyn based monthly Black-Queer artist showcase held in honor of Essex Hemphill. UGBA is also the founder of "Dark-Skin Support Group," a virtual support network for dark-skin Black Americans in need of a space to discuss the realities of colorism. In 2020, UGBA was named a "Black LGBTQ+ playwright you need to know '' by Time Out NY. UGBA also served as script assistant for the Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Fat Ham" on Broadway. He is an alumnus of The Public Theater's #BARS program and The Public Theater's Emerging Writers Group 2020-2023 cohort. UGBA is the recipient of the Founder's Award from New York Stage and Film, a 2023 Artivism Fellow through Broadway Advocacy Coalition, a 2022 MAP Grant recipient, a 2020-2021 BAM Resident, and the current Artistic Director at NY Writers Coalition.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Zhailon Levingston (Director, he/him) is a Louisiana-raised storyteller, director, and activist. He is a Board Member for the Broadway Advocacy Coalition, which he co-created, and teaches the Theatre of Change course at Columbia University.
He is a Music Mentor Fellow and has done work with Idina Menzel’s A Broader Way Foundation. His directing credits include: Neptune (Dixon Place, Brooklyn Museum), The Years That Went Wrong (Lark, MCC), The Exonerated (Columbia Law School), Chariot Part 2 (Soho Rep., for The Movement Theatre Company), Mother of Pearl (LaGuardia Performing Arts Center). He is the associate director of Primer for a Failed Superpower with Tony Award winner Rachel Chavkin, and Runaways at The Public Theater with Sam Pinkleton. Most recently, he directed Chicken & Biscuits which premiered on Broadway in 2021 and Patience which premiered at Second Stage UPTOWN Summer of 2022. Zhailon is also the former resident director at Tina: The Tina Turner Musical on Broadway and the associate director of Hadestown in South Korea.