New York's National Black Theatre (NBT), in association with The Flea Theater, will produce the world premiere of Chiaroscuro later this year.

Originally written in 2002 by one of the foremothers of the Black Arts Movement, the late Aishah Rahman, this production will be directed by NBT’s SOUL Directing Resident abigail jean-baptiste. The show will begin performances at The Flea Theater May 27, with opening night set for June 1. The show is set to run through June 22.

Chiaroscuro invites audiences to join six Black singles aboard the S.S. Chiaroscuro for a singles cruise to nowhere. Guided by the wise and mischievous Paul Paul Legba, the “love boat” ultimately transforms into a dark comedy as the passengers wrestle with their own pursuit of love, desire, and need to be seen. Rahman named the play after an Italian artistic term referring to a stark contrast between dark and light. 

The production will star Abenaa Quïïn (Nollywood Dreams) as La Honda Déja Vu, Ebony Marshall-Oliver (Ain't No Mo, Chicken & Biscuits) as Gina Rose, Gayle Samuels (Ohio State Murders) as Sienna, Lance Coadie Williams (Sweat, Booty Candy) as Tilman, Paige Gilbert (The Skin of Our Teeth) as Paul Paul Legba, Sidney DuPont (Paradise Square) as Nayron, and TL Thompson (Orlando) as Russ.

Chiaroscuro’s creative team will include scenic designer Jungah Han, sound designer Bailey Trierweiler, costume designer Azalea Fairley, prop designer Juliana Suaide, hair and makeup designer Alfreda "Fre" Howard, dramaturg Nissy Aya, and movement coordinator Ogemdi Ude, with production stage manager Victoria Whooper and assistant stage manager Genevieve Ortiz.

For more information, visit NationalBlackTheatre.org.