J. Nicole Brooks

'Post-black' refers to an emerging trend within black arts to find new and multiple expressions of blackness, unburdened by the social and cultural expectations of blackness of the past and moving beyond the conventional binary of black and white. Reflecting this multiplicity of perspectives, the plays in this collection explode the traditional ways of representing black families on the American stage, and create new means to consider the interplay of race, with questions of class, gender, and sexuality. They engage and critique current definitions of black and African-American identity, as well as previous limitations placed on what constitutes blackness and black theatre. Written by the emerging stars of American theatre such as Eisa Davis and Marcus Gardley, the plays explore themes as varied as family and individuality, alienation and gentrification, and reconciliation and belonging. They demonstrate a wide-range of formal and structural innovations for the American theatre, and reflect the important ways in which contemporary playwrights are expanding the American dramatic canon with new and diverse means of representation. Edited by two leading US scholars in black drama, Harry J. Elam Jr (Stanford) and Douglas A. Jones Jr (Princeton), this cutting edge anthology gathers together some of the most exciting new American plays, selected by a rigorous academic backbone and explored in depth by supporting critical material.

The Chicago Landmark Project chronicles all twelve short plays produced by Theatre Seven of Chicago as part of a World Premiere theatrical event paying tribute to the people and places of the Windy City. Using distinct locations in zip codes from Rogers Park to the South Side, The Chicago Landmark Project offers twelve diverse snapshots of Chicago life from present day to the distant past. From famous landmarks like Navy Pier to only-in-Chicago places like the Logan Square Farmers Market and Riverview Amusement Park, The Chicago Landmark Project uses location to create an emotional geography of life by the lake. "...as good a portrait of the diversity of this city as you can currently find." - Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune "...this Landmark Project should unquestionably become an annual event." - Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times