Black Bone
by Tina Fakhrid-Deen
directed by Carla Stillwell
May 30 - June 29, 2025
Definition @ 55th, 1160 E. 55th St
About
A winner of Amplify Series Two, Black Bone is a sharp satirical fantasy that blurs the line between game show theatrics and real life. The play follows a group of Black academics at a predominantly white institution (PWI) who discover that one among them is "passing" as Black. Chaos quickly unfolds—mutiny erupts, panic spreads, and the consequences turn deadly. In a desperate bid for survival, we are posed with the question of how is Blackness defined or performed—and who gets to decide who’s in and who's out?
Black Bone is dedicated in loving memory of Erica Faye Watson.
Artists
Woodfence — Patrick Newson Jr.
Nella — Martasia Jones*
Keisha — Marlene Slaughter
Cruz — Matthew Lolar-Johnson
Dean Ivory — Cynthia F. Carter
Production
Asst. Director — Michelle Renee Bester
Production Manager — Zavarie Z. Irons
Stage Manager — Ariel Beller*
Dramaturg — Lydia Moss
Costume Designer — Kotryna Hilko
Fight & Intimacy Designer Maya Vinice Prentiss*
Lighting Designer — Garrett Bell
Projections Designer — Eme Ospina-Lopez
Props Designer — Paloma Locsin
Scenic Designer — Isa Noe
Sound Designer/Orig. Music — Satya Chavez
Head Electrician — Louis Lothan
Technical Director — Jason Scott Clark
Asst. Stage Manager — Kennedy Horton
Asst. Lighting Designer — Emily Curran
Asst. Sound Design/Orig. Music — Emmerich Mager
Scenic Charge — Olivia Volk, Abby West
Voice Over — Andres Enriquez, Eileen Doan
Voice Over & Musician — Nygel Robinson
Directing Shadow — Gabrielle Lott-Rogers
By Design Student Apprentices
Costume Design — Kehinde Aydeun
Sound Design — Ameena Hubbard
Props Design — Ryan Warren
Stage Management — Omojolade Oladipupo
*Definition Ensemble Member
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Black Bone asks do we love ourselves enough to free ourselves from oppressive forces, toxic behaviors, negative thinking, self-harm, community infighting, and fear of the unknown? Beyond talking about transracial passing, this is a story about belonging, identity, multiplicity, and acceptance between Black people. It is also a tale about America’s current undoing and the legacy of that. When we celebrated the first Black president being elected, I witnessed the typical backlash that occurs when Black people fight for and gain progress in this country. White supremacy is as old as the country itself and so the backlash experienced under President Barack Obama was expected by many Black people. One step forward, five leaps back.
At the same time as another groundswell of hate and anti-blackness, you have White individuals being exposed for passing as people of color. It is an interesting contrast that I wanted to explore. I had the idea for this play in 2018, but didn’t quite know what I wanted to say or how I wanted to express it. The Amplify Series allowed me the space and capacity to develop this experimental work. As a Black academic, I have a front row seat to human behavior, hierarchies, displays of power, and politics. So, I thought that this would be a fertile setting for me to have conversations about Black authenticity, anti-blackness, Black labor, and the politics of that. This play is also an opportunity for me to dream about Black futures such as finally receiving reparations and equitable distribution of land and resources, and a revolutionary Black president who prioritizes the needs of Native and Black people to try to right the wrongs of this nation. We deserve that. But as we know, the fight for progress continues. Black Bone is part of that fight, our Black joy, and our collective healing, so with your fans out, raucous laughter, and joy radiating, join me in a fight for liberation.
Info
Run time
1 hour, 45 minutes with no intermission
Additional Discounts
Learn more about our $15 student tickets
Accommodations
Let us know you have any requests or needed accommodations for a performance. Email us
Large Groups
For groups exceeding 10 people, connect with us for select discounted rates + perks. Email us
Questions?
The quickest way to get a hold of staff is via email. We do our best to reply within a timely occurrence, but that may take a few business days. Email us
Events
Sponsors
Induvidual Season Sponsors
Cheryl Lynn Bruce
Nancy Jaffe Faloona & Dave Faloona
Definition Theatre acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council
