The African American experience is not represented solely by one voice or one style. Horse Trade Theater Group and The Fire This Time Festival provide a platform for talented early-career playwrights of African and African American descent to explore challenging new directions for 21st century theater.

The Fire This Time Festival, focusing on the experience of African American artists and audiences, takes place this year from January 15-28. The festival provides a platform for emerging African American writers to have their works produced and shown to the world. We want you to meet some of the playwrights in the week leading to the festival. Here’s Sandra A. Daley-Sharif, whose play Anonymous will be performed as part of Fire This Time’s 10-minute play series. Describe your play.  Anonymous is a Black artist gets really frustrated. What else is new!? She goes to extreme measures, including going under the guise of Old White Guy. How did you first realize you wanted to become a playwright?  I first realized I wanted to be a playwright when I didn’t see the stories I wanted to tell. Being Caribbean-American brings a different perspective and I was determined to explore and hone that voice. Mention one play you think is flawless.  Flawless is impossible. But darn well LOVE? Curve of Our Departure by Rachel Bonds. I would love to spend an afternoon talking to Ms. Bonds about her wonderful play. Who is your favorite character in a play?  Ahhhh. Hmph. What does your perfect place for w …Read more