DOWNSTAGE PRESS

Playwright and professor Nathan Alan Davis is experiencing a long-overdue moment of wide recognition in 2023, marked by a highly productive year of premieres. The 43-year-old dramatist has seen three world premieres already this year—The High Ground (Arena Stage, D.C., February), Eternal Life: Part 1 (Wilma Theater, Philadelphia, April), and Origin Story (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Ohio, May)—all leading up to his most ambitious work yet. The Epic Commitment: The Refug

Director, actor, and author Schele Williams is undertaking the significant task of giving "new life"—the core meaning of revival—to two iconic Broadway musicals: Aida and The Wiz. As an original cast member of Aida and a lifelong fan of The Wiz, Williams is deeply aware of the cultural weight these stories carry, especially within the context of Black theater. Her goal is to ensure these new iterations resonate powerfully with contemporary and future audiences. Reorienting Ai