Premiered by the North Carolina Black Repertory Company in 2023, Phenomenal Woman, Maya Angelou continues its journey under the direction of Debbie Allen, with a Broadway premiere set for 2028.
The North Carolina Black Repertory Company (NC Black Rep) is proud to announce the continued development of Phenomenal Woman, Maya Angelou, the first and only estate-authorized stage production inspired by the extraordinary life and work of the late writer, artist, and civil rights leader Dr. Maya Angelou.
Written by Angelica Chéri and set to be directed by the internationally acclaimed Debbie Allen—director, choreographer, author, dancer, and actor—the play is currently in development toward a 2028 Broadway world premiere, timed to coincide with the 100th birthday of Dr. Maya Angelou.
Chéri, playwright of the 2019 Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin Rolling World Premiere Award–winning playPhenomenal Woman, Maya Angelou, first brought the work to the stage with its world premiere at the North Carolina Black Repertory Company in February 2023 under the direction of Jackie Alexander. The production later received additional presentations in partnership with the Ensemble Theatre Houston in June 2023, as part of the Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin Rolling World Premiere Award program, which supports new works by Black playwrights through productions at collaborating Black theatres.
Established at the biennial International Black Theatre Festival, the award has supported three Black playwrights with development and multi-theatre productions since its inception in 2019.
Director Debbie Allen shares,
“Like Paul Laurence Dunbar, Dr. Maya Angelou was the impactful genius of her time. The poetry she delivered radiated a folk spirit of African American people that became classic and traditional. This production will dramatize and sing the soul and the essence of her being—from child to legend. I had a very personal relationship with Dr. Maya Angelou, and know her legacy resonates with thousands of young people in the performing arts today.”
Playwright Angelica Chéri adds,
“Art has the power to unite the world or to divide it, and the verses and words that Dr. Angelou blessed us with have been our guiding light in bringing her story to life on the stage. I cannot wait for the world to experience the testament to passion and compassion that is Phenomenal Woman, Maya Angelou.”
Phenomenal Woman, Maya Angelou is co-commissioned by Corstoria and J. Todd Harris Productions, in partnership with North Carolina Black Repertory Company. Additional producers include Jameson Rich (Corstoria),Marc Marcum, and Thomas Pettinelli (J. Todd Harris Productions).
Photography by Larente Hamlin. Phenomenal Woman, Maya Angelou performed by the North Carolina Black Repertory Company at Hanesbrands Theatre in Winston-Salem, February 2023.