Support Black Theatre presents LA Black Creators Summit 2026
LA Black Creators Summit 2026
Support Black Theatre’s annual Los Angeles Black Creators Summit, presented in partnership with Ebony Repertory Theatre, is back!
Join us July 10 & 11 for our annual gathering of Black artists, leaders, and culture workers as we connect, strategize, and celebrate our collective artistry.
✨ FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 10, 2026 ✨
Friday night honors the 30th anniversary of The Ground On Which I Stand as we explore the evolution of Black theatre and its continued importance as a cultural, artistic, and civic institution.
Headlining the conversation is Stephen McKinley Henderson, one of the most celebrated actors working today. Henderson’s distinguished career includes acclaimed performances in Fences, Dune, Lady Bird, Civil War, and A Man on the Inside, along with decades of groundbreaking work on the American stage.
✨ SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2026 ✨
Saturday’s programming begins with the first public presentation of findings from Support Black Theatre’s inaugural State of Black Theatre in L.A. Report,offering a first-of-its-kind look at the Black theatre ecosystem in Los Angeles and providing insight into opportunities, challenges, and future growth. This community discussion is led by SBT Director of Education and Research, Dr. Gregory A. King, and SBT Founder and Executive Director, Sophina Brown.
Saturday Summit programming continues with a television and film panel featuring an inspiring lineup of creators and industry leaders, including Anthony Hemingway, Charles Murray, Tani Marole, and Aleshea Harris.
Emmy Award-winning director Hemingway’s credits include Netflix’s Forever, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, Power, Underground, The Wire, Empire, Treme, and Red Tails. Murray’s showrunner and executive producer credits include of Netflix’s True Story, Amazon Prime’s Outer Range and is known for his work on Luke Cage and Sons of Anarchy. Marole joins the conversation fresh off the success of Netflix’s Nemesis, which he co-created alongside Courtney A. Kemp and serves as co-showrunner. And award-winning playwright, television writer, and filmmaker Harris comes in as critics and audiences continue to praise her directorial debut with Is God Is, which she also wrote and produced under Amazon MGM’s prestigious Orion label.
Together, the panelists will discuss the realities facing Black creators in a rapidly evolving entertainment landscape, examining strategies for sustainability, ownership, opportunity creation, and artistic resilience during this period of significant industry changes.
Saturday afternoon, Emmy Award-winning artist Chris Webb performs his incredible solo piece, The End of Black Excellence, directed by Tyrone Davis. The End of Black Excellence follows a man who just may be the first Black person born without “Black excellence.” In his attempt to prove this theory wrong, he puts on an (ever-failing) solo show to prove his worth, value, and connection with the elusive excellence that he craves.
In one of the Summit’s most anticipated artistic moments, award-winning playwright and actor June Carryl will present a first look at her celebrated play The Good Minister From Harare, recipient of the Saroyan/Paul Human Rights Playwriting Prize. The excerpt will serve as both a showcase of this brave new work and a launch pad for a larger conversation about the importance of new play development as it relates to the future of Black theatre.
This community dialogue will be led by Tony-nominated and award-winning playwright, Dominique Morisseau, known for her outstanding work including Pipeline, Skeleton Crew, Ain’t Too Proud, Confederates, and the upcoming Broadway production Mix and Master, starring Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Kara Young.
Saturday evening will conclude with the Legacy Rising Monologue Competition. Celebrate Los Angeles County’s next generation of artists as eight outstanding high school performers bring to life the works of theatrical legends Lorraine Hansberry, Alice Childress, Philip Hayes Dean, and August Wilson. Our 2026 finalists (from left to right, top row then bottom row): Ny’kell Hightower, Nehanda Gaines, Zara Di Lao, Samara Johnson, Jayden Hall, Donnivan Brandon, Lua Manhanga, and Rodney L. Jones III.
The highly anticipated Legacy Rising Monologue Competition is hosted for the third consecutive year by actress Ryan Michelle Bathe, known for standout performances in BET’s First Wives Club, This Is Us, Boston Legal, and The Endgame. Currently Bathe writes and produces the NAACP Image Award-winning podcast WE DON’T ALWAYS AGREE, which she hosts alongside her husband Sterling K. Brown.
Step into a space rooted in culture, community, and the future of Black storytelling. The creative energy is going to be unmatched, and the room won’t be the same without you!
Limited Community Access tickets are available for students and artists facing economic barriers. Email [email protected].
