In a second annual revival of a longtime tradition, Intiman Theatre returns this year with Black Nativity to unite performers and audiences in a shared holiday celebration of hope and joy while showcasing the richness of Black American cultural heritage.

Black Nativity became a beloved Seattle holiday tradition during its original run from 1998 to 2012. Today, the musical has been reimagined by a distinguished creative team, including di-rector Valerie Curtis-Newton, musical director Rev. Sam L. Townsend, Jr., and choreographer Vania C. Bynum, and it won the 2024 Gregory Award for Outstanding Musical.

While based upon the original Christmas story of the birth of Jesus Christ, Langston Hughes' original Nativity featured an all-Black cast and interweaved Black Christian traditions in song and dance, such as gospel music.

In partnership with The Hansberry Project, whose mission is to promote and support Black theater artists, Intiman's Black Nativity also features all-Black cast of 30 local singers and dancers (with one exception), a live band, and a citywide gospel choir. The second act, typically performed as a sermon, now comes in a sing-along style carol, fostering inclusivity and communal celebration through a shared experience.

Curtis-Newton, who also teaches at the University of Washington's School of Drama, said she is invested in "telling the story of Black people, not to the exclusion of all others but to be sure we are included in the fabric of how we tell the American story."

"I want everyone to fall in love with Black people by seeing our work," she added. "And because they fall in love with Black people, they then embrace their own humanity more fully."

Curtis-Newton expressed that creating a space for people to come together and, in the second act, join in singing Christmas carols is at the essence of Black Nativity's importance.

"Last year, our driving message was: we wanted to have people come together and ─ join in communal singing as ritual," she said. "That is the real heart of what it is we're trying to do here."

Engaging the community
During this year's production, the theater will again partner with Food Lifeline to raise funds for those experiencing hunger. This is integrated easily in the play's theme through a "Pass the Basket" tradition in the second act.

Intiman's managing director, Wesley Frugé, saw this moment as a chance to give back.

"I felt that it would be a missed opportunity to keep all of the money for ourselves," he said. "So we've formatted this… as an opportunity to lift up our friends and neighbors."

In 2023, this effort raised $15,000 for the nonprofit, which supplies nutritious and culturally relevant foods to 299 pantries across Western Washington.

In addition, the partnership has involved mutual support from both sides. This year's cast spent a day volunteering in the Food Lifeline warehouse, and during select performances, Food Lifeline staff will also serve as ushers.

"One of Intiman's values is to 'engage our local community,' and we could not think of a better organization to partner with this holiday season," said Frugé. "This partnership is built on the spirit of abundance and the idea that we can do more together."

Black Nativity plays December 4-29, 2024, at the Broadway Performance Hall. Tickets are on sale now at
https://www.intiman.org To learn more about Food Lifeline's work, make a donation, or to volunteer, visit
https://foodlifeline.org