Black Theatre Troupe reflects the African-American experience

More from this show

In 1970, a Phoenix City Parks supervisor named Helen Mason realized a voice was missing in the city’s art community. From her simple dream, The Black Theatre Troupe, Inc. was born. It has grown into a nationally celebrated company.

As the only professional African-American theater company within the four-corner states, The Black Theatre Troupe produces plays that reflect the African-American experience and share it with the Phoenix metropolitan area and throughout Arizona. Discover the troupe’s story as told by its members, learn how they choose their plays and explore what it means for the troupe to work in a state with a painful history of diminishing African Americans. Learn more about the troupe at http://new-wp.blacktheatretroupe.org.

Watch more episodes from “Art in the 48” here.

David Hemphill. executive director

Gabe Garcia
aired Feb. 6

Apache Peace Camps: Survival and Strategy in Spanish Arizona

The Arizona PBS logo and text reading: Your Arizona Connection Starts Here

Celebrating Arizona PBS’ 65th Anniversary

Fountain Hills with text reading: Food Festival Saturday, April 11, 2026, Fountain Hills, Arizona
April 11

Join us for the We-Ko-Pa ‘Check, Please! Arizona’ Food Festival

Miles O’Brien, Independent Journalists and Filmmaker, Mobias Media
aired Jan. 22

Miles O’Brien on Antarctica’s ‘Doomsday Glacier’ and threat to sea levels

Subscribe to Arizona PBS Newsletters

STAY in touch
with azpbs.org!

Subscribe to Arizona PBS Newsletters: