Seattle's long tradition of staging Black Nativity, the Langston Hughes adaptation of the nativity story featuring gospel music, continues this season at the Broadway Performance Hall.
Black Nativity first came to Seattle under the helm of the late pastor Patrinell Wright and Rev. Dr. Samuel McKinney in 1998. The play returned to Intiman Theatre in 2023 after a 10-year hiatus. The return was so successful that this year's run will be even longer, from Dec. 4 to 29.
This is also the second year Intiman will partner with the Hansberry Project in reimaging Black Nativity with a special second act that features an audience singalong with the cast. This year's show brings together several performers who have participated in past productions of Black Nativity with a group of talented young artists performing for the first time.
Shaunyce Omar who plays one of the narrators said that Black Nativity is a family tradition. Her mother performed in Black Nativity back when it first started in Seattle, over 20 years ago, and now her daughter is in this year's play. In a recent performance, Omar asked the audience how many other people made Black Nativity part of their family's Christmas traditions, and one person said she and her daughter started coming over 20 years ago and that day had brought her granddaughter as well. Another audience member also remembered bringing her family over 20 years ago. She said it was a family tradition for at least five years in the early 2000s, and that she really enjoyed the sing-along part of the two most recent adaptations.
There's still plenty of time to catch Black Nativity. It runs until Dec. 29 at the Broadway Performance Hall. For times and ticket information, head to Intiman Theatre's official website.
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