ABCT Production History: A Brief Overview
The Anthony Bean Community Theater (ABCT) focuses on producing theatrical seasons that celebrate Black culture and identity through carefully curated themes and performances. This document chronicles ABCT's history from its inception in 2000 to its 25th-anniversary season in 2025, highlighting various productions and TV initiatives to engage young people.
This overview provides a chronological history of ABCT's productions and television shows, starting with Season 1 in 2001 and ending with Season 25 in 2025. This story includes diverse plays and musicals that highlight significant cultural narratives.
- ABCT's Mission: ABCT is dedicated to crafting theatrical seasons that reflect themes related to Black culture, aiming to entertain and stimulate meaningful dialogue among audiences.
- Youth Engagement: The ABCT Teen Talk TV program emphasizes youth engagement, featuring episodes that empower teenagers to discuss mental health, social justice, career guidance, and personal development.
- Chronological Productions: The document details ABCT's productions from Season 1 in 2001, starting with "Steal Away," to the upcoming Season 25 in 2025, including twelve ABCT Teen Talk TV episodes.
Past Plays, Musicals, and TV Programs:
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SEASON 25
12 Episodes 2025 - ABCT TEEN TALK TV My54-WUPL TV
Season 24
GRANDMA, GRANDPA, & SUNDAY MORNING - JULY 2024
Season 23
The Bodyguard The Musical - AUGUST 2023
Season22
6 Episodes in 2022 - ABCT TEEN TALK TV My54-WUPL TV
Season 21
El-Hajj Malik: The Life and Times of Malcolm XÂ Â (2/2021)
COVID (19-20)
SEASON 19
504 Youth Musical (7/2019)
SEASON 18
Soulsville Youth Musical (7/2018)
SEASON 17
ME The Musical (7/2017
SEASON16
The Lion King (8/2016)
JUNGLE KINGS (2/2016)
Christmas Television Variety Show (12/2015)
Simply Irma (11/2015)
Fences (9/2015)
The Glove (7/2015)
The Color Purple (5/2015)
The Glass Menagerie (4/2015)
William Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure (3/2015)
A Christmas Carol (12/2014)
I Rather Be Rich (11/2014)
Two Trains Running  (9/2014)
Candy Land (7/2014)
Say Amen (6/2014)
Reflections 2: Oliver Thomas Off Probation; Ready To Talk  (4/2014)
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof  (2/2014)
The Mountaintop  (11/2013)
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom  (9/2013)
Old School/Nu Skool  (7/2013)
Sanctified  (6/2013)
Spell #7Â Â (4/2013)
El-Hajj Malik: The Life and Times of Malcolm XÂ Â (2/2013)
Seven Guitars  (11/2012)
High School Musical (7/12)
For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When The Rainbow Is Enuf  (6/2012)
Blues for an Alabama Sky  (4/2012)
The Amen Corner  (1/2012)
The Blood  (12/2011)
The Good Negro  (10/2011)
Jitney  (9/2011)
CATS (7/2011)
Marrero Action  (3/2011)
Reflections: A Man and His Time  (1/2011)
If You Know HIM, Say Yeah! (12/2010
Ceremonies in Dark Old Men  (10/2010)
504 (08/2010)
The Wiz (7/2010)
Our Town  (6/2010)
God's Trombones (4/10)
Steal Away (01/2010)
The Reason (12/2009)
A Raisin in the Sun  (10/2009)
The Piano Lesson (9/2009)
Run It! (07/2009
"Crowns" A Musical  (6/2009)
The Women of Brewster Place  (4/2009)
The Member Of The Wedding  (3/2009)
Jamal's Special Christmas Gift  (12/2008)
Radio Golf  (9/2008)
Give Up Da Funk  (7/2008)
Unplugged  (6/2008)
The Bluest Eye  (4/2008)
A Soldier's Play  (2/2008)
How Santa Got His Groove Back  (12/2007)
The Sty Of The Blind Pig  (11/2007)
504: A Hip Hop Drama  (9/2007)
Soulville IIÂ Â (7/2007)
Morning, Noon, And Night  (6/2007)
Gem Of The Ocean  (5/2007)
New Orleans Is The One I Love  (4/2007)
Finding The Enemy  (3/2007)
The Papaya Man  (1/2007)
Living All Alone: The Phyllis Hyman Story  (11/2006)
Dreamgirls  (10/2006)
Fences  (9/2006)
Annie Mae's Cafe  (7/2006)
Shut Up'n'Dance  (7/2006)
Little Bit  (6/2006)
The Old Settler  (3/2006)
Joe Turner's Come And Gone  (1/2006)
Ol' Skool  (7/2005)
The Story  (6/2005)
Your Arms Too Short To Box With God  (4/2005)
Housewarming  (2/2005)
King Hedley II (9/2004)
Grandpa, Grandma, and Sunday Morning (7/2004)
Eubie! (6/2004)
Jar The Floor (4/2004)
Crowns (2/2004)
Little Ham (09/2003)
Soulville (7/2003)
The Moving of Lilla Barton (3/2003)
Birth (1/2003
Mahalia, A Gospel Musical (11/2002)
No Niggers, No Jews, No Dogs  (9/2002)
Grown Ups (7/2002)
Misery, the Play (6/02)
Good Night, Irene (4/2002)
Simply Irma (11/2001)
Mr. Rickey Calls A Meeting (09/2001)
CandyMan (6/2001)
Two Trains Running (06/2001)
Steal Away (01/2001)
Written by Anthony Bean
Anthony Bean performed in the play.
Other writers wrote original plays.
ABCT Awards and Recognition
2025
The Giving Gracefully Award
The OMBI Group
Mothers of NFL Players
2024
WYES 2024 Celeste Seymour Judell Arts Award
2023
Outstanding Contributions to Black Theatre
New Orleans City Council
2023
Outstanding Community Service
Ashe Cultural Arts Center
2020
Living Legends Award
The Center for African and African American Studies
Southern University at New Orleans
2018
THE AUGUST WILSON CENTURY CYCLE AWARD
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the August Wilson House/Daisy Wilson Artist Community.
2012
Trailblazer Award
Southern Black Theatre Festival
2010
Community Arts Award
New Orleans Arts Council
2010
Anthony Bean’s Day
New Orleans City Council
Big Easy Entertainment Awards
2017
Anthony Bean
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD IN THEATER
2016
Best Actress Award In A Drama
Gwendolyne Foxworth
The Glass Menagerie
Anthony Bean Community Theater
2014
August Wilson Completion
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD Anthony Bean Community Theater
2010
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA
Anthony Bean
Ceremonies in Dark Old Men
Anthony Bean Community Theater
2017
Anthony Bean
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD IN THEATER
2016
Best Actress Award In A Drama
Gwendolyne Foxworth
The Glass Menagerie
Anthony Bean Community Theater
2014
August Wilson Completion
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD Anthony Bean Community Theater
2010
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA
Anthony Bean
Ceremonies in Dark Old Men
Anthony Bean Community Theater
New Orleans Ambies Awards.
Best Drama
2004--King Hedley II, Anthony Bean Community Theater
2007--The Sty of the Blind Pig, Anthony Bean Community Theater
Best Original Work
2006--Little Bit, John Grimsley, playwright/Anthony Bean Community Theater and Dog & Pony Theater Co., producers
Best Director of a Play
2004--Anthony Bean, King Hedley II
Best Actor in a Play
2004--Wilbert L. Williams, Jr., King Hedley II
2006--Wilbert Williams, Jr., Fences
Best Actress in a Play
2004--Gwendolyne Foxworth, King Hedley II
2006--Patricia McGuire-Hill, The Old Settler
Best Director of a Play
2004--Anthony Bean, King Hedley II
Best Actor in a Play
2004--Wilbert L. Williams, Jr., King Hedley II
2006--Wilbert Williams, Jr., Fences
Best Actress in a Play
2004--Gwendolyne Foxworth, King Hedley II
2006--Patricia McGuire-Hill, The Old Settler
Best Director of a Play
2004--Anthony Bean, King Hedley II
Best Actor in a Play
2004--Wilbert L. Williams, Jr., King Hedley II
2006--Wilbert Williams, Jr., Fences
Best Actress in a Play
2004--Gwendolyne Foxworth, King Hedley II
2006--Patricia McGuire-Hill, The Old Settler