The Ensemble Studio Theatre and Going to the River have lined up some of the most gifted women playwrights of color, including some new-France-Luce Benson, Christine Jean Chambers, Naveen Bahar Choudhury, Philana Omorotionmwan, Desi Moreno-Penson, Cori Thomas and Bridget Wimberly-plus some established stars like Ruby Dee, Pearl Cleage and Regina Taylor, for a three-week presentation of nine short, under-10-minute plays in the return of the series “River Crosses Rivers II,” which previewed on Sept. 14 and runs through Oct. 2 at the Ensemble Studio Theatre.
In “Post Black” by Taylor, Dee plays a 110-year-old woman forced to confront a “post-Black” generation (Wednesday, Sept. 28 through Sunday, Oct. 2).
Elizabeth Van Dyke and Jamie Richards, the artistic directors of River Crosses Rivers II, have organized a stellar lineup of playwrights whose voices add richness and texture to the American canon. Billy Carden, the artistic director of Ensemble Studio Theatre, says that the goal is to give women playwrights of color the kind of exposure that is provided by his theater.
Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. The Ensemble Studio Theatre is located at 549 W. 52nd Street, west of 10th Ave. Tickets are $18. To order tickets, call (866) 811-4111 or visit www.orationtix.com/trs/cal/134.