WINSTON-SALEM — The International Black Theatre Festival, one of the world's premiere celebrations of Black theatre and performance, returns to Winston-Salem, July 27 to Aug. 1, bringing together acclaimed artists, emerging voices, and audiences from around the globe.

Presented by the North Carolina Black Repertory Company, the festival opens with an Opening Day News Conference at noon in the Winston-Salem Marriott Lobby, followed by the festivals signature Opening Night Gala at the Benton Convention Center.

The gala will begin with a vibrant procession of African drummers and dancers, culminating in the festival’s celebrated Parade of Stars, featuring more than 25 distinguished artists from theatre, television and film. The evening serves as a celebration of artistic excellence while honoring individuals whose work has made an enduring impact on Black theatre and the performing arts.

Among this year's distinguished honorees is acclaimed actress, director and educator Phylicia Rashad, who will receive the Sidney Poitier Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her extraordinary career and lasting contributions to American theatre, television and film.

Rashad will also star as the lead narrator in Wynton Marsalis’ “A Fiddler’s Tale, an updated, jazz-infused reimagining of Igor Stravinsky’s 1918 piece about a violinist who makes a Faustian bargain with the devil. The acclaimed production will be performed by the Gateways Chamber Players and conducted by Damien Sneed.

The festival will feature more than 100 performances and events presented in venues throughout Winston-Salem. Award-winning actors Angela Robinson and Peter Parros, best known for their roles in Tyler Perry's acclaimed OWN drama “The Haves and the Have Nots,” will serve as celebrity co-chairs.

Special programming includes the IBTF Film Festival, opening with the premiere of “Holy Ground, “a documentary chronicling the vision of festival founder Larry Leon Hamlin and exploring the International Black Theatre Festival's enduring influence on Black theatre and artists worldwide.

Recognized internationally for its artistic excellence and cultural significance, the festival is the only one in the United States dedicated to presenting six consecutive days of professional Black theatre. Programming includes educational workshops, Readers' Theatre featuring new works, the International Colloquium, the Poetry Jam, an International Vendors Market, the Youth Celebrity Project, and TEENtastic, which offers engaging experiences designed specifically for young people.

For a complete schedule, visit www.ncblackrep.org.

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