Black Ensemble Theatre

Black Ensemble Theater (BE), Founded in 1976 by the phenomenal actress, producer, and playwright Jackie Taylor, has grown from a small community arts organization to a vibrant nationally and internationally renowned arts institution. A leader and innovator in the African-American and mainstream arts communities, Black Ensemble Theater is recognized as one of the most diverse theaters in the...

The Venue
The 144-seat theater with proscenium stage provides excellent sight lines for the Company's musicals, known for their infectious energies and melodies. Tuck yourself into one...

This theater, directed by Jackie Taylor, used to house the Organic Theater Company, followed by the Zebra Crossing Theater and has since been taken over by the Black Ensemble, which specializes in the transformation of classic works into productions with African-American themes, such as the Other Cinderella. The company also produces biographical musicals of African Americans who have made...

Administrative Office

Mission Statement The mission of the Black Ensemble Theater is to produce entertaining, educational and enlightening African American theater of excellence that reaches an interracial audience. We believe that theater should serve as a cultural bridge, bringing people together to facilitate understanding and acceptance while celebrating the uniqueness of the human spirit. It is also our mission...