Black Spectrum Theatre

Monday–Friday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Awards & Recognition

Awards & Recognition

Since 2003, Black Spectrum's professional theatre company has received five prestigious invitations to perform such award-winning plays as "Piano Lesson," "Kingfish," "Willie & Esther," and "Single Black Female" at the National Theater Festival in North Carolina. The theatre's founder and resident director Bette Howard has also received national awards for excellence in producing and directing.

Each season, Black Spectrum produces four main stage performances. Since 1979, Black Spectrum has presented over 1,500 performances of more than 150 theatrical productions and garnered critical acclaim in dozens of major newspapers and media outlets, including The New York Times, NBC, ABC, Channel 7, Like It Is, and American Theatre Magazine.

Winner of 10 Audelco Awards

These awards were presented for excellence in African-American theater. Productions that have received this award include:

  • "Deadwood Dick, Legend of the West"
  • "Kingfish"
  • "Whom you Least Expect"
  • "The Healing Zone"
  • "Two Trains Running"
  • "Piano Lesson"

National Black Theater Festival

  • Producer of the Year—Carl Clay (Our Founder)
  • Director of the Year—Bette Howard (Our Resident Theatre Director)

PBS Audience Award

  • For the Film "Urban Encounters"

Newark Black Film Festival

  • First Place Film Award “The Follower”

National Film & TV Festival

  • Third Place Film Award "The Follower"

National Library Association

  •   First Place Film Award “Babies Making Babies"