“Frederick Douglass, No Turning Back” chosen for National Black Theatre Festival August 4-6 in North Carolina

The National Black Theatre Festival has chosen the highly acclaimed Actors’ Theatre of South Carolina theater production, Frederick Douglass, No Turning Back, to be one of thirty events in their 2022 week-long festival August 4-6, 2022. Starring New York actor, Kyle Taylor, adapted, directed, and produced by Chris Weatherhead, this one act play, takes place in 1872 in an integrated church in western Ohio and reveals the wisdom and hope of the African American reformer, abolitionist and leader.

“It’s a great honor to be invited to this wonderful festival,” Chris Weatherhead said. “I spent years researching the electrifying journey of Frederick Douglass, his escape from slavery and astounding achievements as a major leader of our society and culture. His passion for knowledge and wisdom continued his entire life. His contributions as an inspirational Christian lecturer, philosopher and newspaper editor can hardly be measured for their benefits to the heart and soul of America,” she continued. “When you study his essays and books filled with wisdom and integrity, you see his unique use of irony, humor, rage and love to encourage each of us to join him the betterment of our country and humanity. One of my favorite quotes is, “I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence.”

Kyle Taylor, who performs Mr. Douglass, adds, “As an actor, playing Mr. Douglass is not only one of the most humbling and courageous experiences of my life, but I am reminded that portraying this giant of a man also gives me a voice and a position to seek higher ground in terms of my contributions to remind America of its greatness. Playing Frederick makes me want his approval and a place beside God as one of his warriors for justice and righteousness. It makes me stand a little taller.”

Mr. Taylor received high acclaim for his portrayal of Mr. Douglass in 2017 at the Piccolo Spoleto Theatre Festival in Charleston South Carolina and in succeeding touring company performances. The video of his performance has won four international film awards.

He has also co-starred in other productions including Six Degrees of Separation at Center Stage in New York City, A River Niger starring Esther Rolle (of CBS “Good Times”) in Los Angeles and the role of Samuel in the award-winning docudrama, John Laurens’ War for Moving Images Group at Actors’ Theatre of South Carolina.

In Charleston, SC, Kyle received rave reviews for his role of Dr. Martin Luther King in The Mountaintop, Crown in Porgy and Bess at the historic Dock Street Theatre and Crooks in Of Mice & Men. Kyle’s skills transcend beyond the stage as he is also the inventor of Coollettes, a compact cooling product, which can be found at coollettes.com

About The National Black Theatre Festival

The National Black Theatre Festival, was founded in 1989 by Larry Leon Hamlin in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. As its executive director, Hamlin’s goal was “to unite black theatre companies in America to ensure the survival of the genre into the next millennium.” Held biennially since 1989 for six days, the NBTF showcases the best in African American theater.

Billed as the world’s largest event in Black theater, the festival exceeded 60,000+ attendees when it was last held in 2019 and is this year could see those numbers exceeded. The biennial festival had been scheduled for August 2021 but was postponed due to COVID-19.

For information visit website: https://ncblackrep.org/nbtf-2022/.

Among this year’s performances will be: Becoming Othello: A Black Girl’s Journey, Frederick Douglass: No Turning Back, Greenwood, I Wanna Be Evil: The Eartha Kitt Story, Let My People Go!, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Natural Woman: An Aretha Story, and Pooled: A Gospel Musical Drama.

The event will include a midnight poetry jams each day, as well as an International Vendors Market, workshops, and seminars, TeenTastic, and a variety of speakers, tours, and exhibits.

More information on Director, supporting actor and pianist/vocalist:

Clarence Felder (Pastor Brewster/Executive Producer) – Mr. Felder is an actor, director, producer, and playwright who has co-starred with John Ritter as “Bobo” Pritzger in ABC’s hit comedy cop series Hooperman, for two years, Danny Devito in the hit feature film Ruthless People and Bruce Willis in The Last Boy Scout.  His career in film, television, and theater spans five decades in the US & Canada.  In New York, his work included co-starring in ten Broadway shows including New York’s Shakespeare in the Park and Great Lakes Shakespeare.  Mr. Felder is the executive producer and co-founder of the award-winning professional company, Actors’ Theatre of South Carolina.  His 5-decade long careers spans actor and/or directing in 105 productions, including Herman Goering in Goering at Nuremberg, Ludwig Beethoven in Beethoven; His Women & Music, and The Defense Attorney in Breaker Morant.

Chris Weatherhead (compiler/director/producer)  – Ms. Weatherhead recently co-wrote, directed, and produced the award-winning film, John Laurens’ War.  A thirty-year veteran in film, television, New York theater, and regional theater in America, Chris currently directs, produces, and coaches actors and screenwriters. Ms. Weatherhead directed the feature film, All For Liberty, which has won nine international film festival awards and was recently named one of Top Ten Revolutionary War Movies by the Journal of the American Revolution.  Off-Broadway. Chris starred in James Lapine’s hit Table Settings for two years with Brent Spiner and created the role of Alicia Van Dine for two years on ABC’s daytime series, Edge of Night/.  Other roles for daytime and prime time TV include Our Family Honor and Moonlighting. Chris has directed or produced 92 productions over 20 years for ATSC and has won numerous film awards.

Sandra S. Barnhardt (incidental music, soloist/ vocal coach) – Ms. Barnhardt brings nearly 60 years of music experience and an illustrious career as musician and music educator, including Director of Vocal Music at Cicely Tyson School of Performing and Fine Arts in New Jersey, Minister of Music for St. Matthew AME Church in Orange, NJ, where her Male Choir traveled the US and internationally. She won a Regional Emmy for a documentary, “The Sons of Thunder”, and performed at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center with The Chieftains. In Charleston, South Carolina, Mrs. Barnhardt has been the Assistant Minister of Music at Ebenezer AME Church and Minister of  Music at Bethel AME Church in Ravenel, SC.  She is the former Music Director of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra Gospel Choir, which has performed across the region and internationally in London, Paris, and Ghana, West Africa.