TBAAL recognizes the significance and importance of Arts-and-Education in American education. Our performances and programs are presented to students, year around, throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan areas.
EDUCATION PROGRAMS
September 2025 – August 2026
SEPTEMBER 2025
GALLERY EXHIBITION
“Building from Scratch . . . Sustaining the Legacy of an Institution and Its People”
Saturday, September 20, 2025 – Saturday, August 29, 2025
Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 10am – 6pm
Saturday, Noon – 4pm
James E. Kemp Gallery
Donations Accepted
For nineteen successive seasons, this exhibit of rare photographs, film footage, oral histories, celebrity memorabilia, archival ephemera, institutional documents and five Emmy-Award statues, chronicles the cultural and artistic contributions made by African American artists and scholars who have and continue to support TBAAL’s evolution.
OCTOBER 2025
PROMISING YOUNG ARTISTS
THE ANTOIN CAMPBELL CONCERT
Featuring Antoin Campbell
Friday, 31 & Saturday, November 1 @ 8pm
Clarence Muse Café Theatre
$10
In the style and pizzazz of famed Billy Preston, ANTOIN CAMPBELL is considered one of the greatest young organists on the rise! He’s going to take us from black soul music to a foot-stopping pulse beat of traditional and contemporary black church music
NOVEMBER 2025
PROMISING YOUNG ARTISTS KKEEYZ AND FRIENDS
Featuring Kkeeyz
Friday, 7 and Saturday, 8 @ 8pm
Clarence Muse Café Theatre $10
The young KKEEYZ, aka KeShawn, and his friends bask in the spotlight performing an electrifying evening of R&B, Soul and Neo-soul standard and original tunes.
SUNDAY EVENING THEATRE
STAGE READING OF YOUNG NEW AFRICAN AMERICAN PLAYWRIGHTS
“STEAL AWAY” BY RAMONA KING
Sunday, 9 @ 5 pm
Clarence Muse Café Theatre
$ pay what you can
Set in Chicago during the Depression, this farce is the story of five upstanding church ladies who raise funds to send young Black women to college by holding bake sales. Their latest beneficiary, Tracyada, has more ambitious ideas. She wants them to rob a bank, but they are reluctant until they are turned down at the bank for a loan. The ladies then decide to join in Tracyada’s scheme after the white bank manager thinks that “colored girls” do not need an education. They manage to pull off the robbery; and escape, but not without consequences! Come see what happens to the ladies! This production is supported in part by The Black Seed, a national project funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, in partnership with The Billie Holiday Theatre, New York, New York. Professional Stage Reading directed by AKIN BABATUNDE. Produced by CURTIS KING.
PROMISING YOUNG ARTISTS JUST MYLES CONCERT Featuring Myles Brown
Friday, 21 & Saturday, 22 @ 8pm Clarence Muse Café Theatre
$10
He’s young in age, but old in spirit! MYLES BROWN got that “it thang” as a young singer and he knows how to vocally skate around jazz standards, popular R&B tunes and gospel traditional melodies, making it entertaining and all his own! He’s sure to be a season favorite!
DECEMBER 2025
ARTS-AND-EDUCATION
PERFORMING ARTS MATTER
An After-School Extended Learning ExperienceMonday, December 1, 2025, through Thursday, February 26, 2026
Over four hundred students from seven DallasISD schools, ADELLE TURNER, JIMMIE BASHEAR, BILLIE EARL DADE, DANIEL WEBSTER, CHARLES RICE, RONALD E. MCNAIR, MARK TWAIN, BIRDIE ALEXANDER, and HAROLD W. LANG, get training in the Performing Arts Matter After School twelve-week program from professional artists in music, theatre, and dance. Supported by DallasISD.
32nd ANNUAL CHRISTMAS / KWANZAA CONCERT
Friday, 13 @ 10am
Student Morning Performance
$5
The Women’s Museum
Saturday, 14 @ 8pm
Public Performance
The Women’s Museum
$10
A night of hymns, spirituals, gospel, and classical music, this annual holiday music celebration features 300 young voices from Dallas high schools, with special guests from CHARLES RICE and DUNBAR elementary, along with the incomparable BARACK OBAMA ACADEMY BAND.
JANUARY 2026
43rd ANNUAL FOUR-TIME EMMY WINNING BLACK MUSIC AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT CONCERT
A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Friday, 16 @ 10am
Student Morning Performance
The Women’s Museum
$5
Celebrating over four decades with four EMMY awards, this concert tribute dramatizes and reflects on the moments and memories of the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the 1960s Civil Rights Movement in America’s present environment.
FEBRUARY 2026
IT’S LITerature: AN AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERARY AUTHOR’S SERIES
Sunday, 1 – Saturday, 28
For twenty-eight days, twenty-eight books will be chosen to be a part of this special literary author’s series. The series is designed for high school and college students to select one of the twenty-eight books to read and write an essay about their chosen book at the conclusion of the twenty-eighth day. The essays will be judged by a distinguished panel of scholars and the four winning essays, two from each of the high schools and colleges, will be presented with a cash prize.
DRESS PERFORMANCE THEATRE SERIES
“THE BLACK MAN . . . A MENTAL HEALTH JOURNEY”
Starring Andre Pitre and Charlene Brown
Friday, 6 & Saturday, 7 @ 8:15pm nightly
Saturday, 7 @ 3pm Matinee
Clarence Muse Café Theatre
$20
This riveting play dives deep into the psyche of Back men, revealing hidden truths about why they do what they do. Raw and sometimes painful, it also examines complex relationships between Black men and women. It’s a journey that leads audiences toward healing, truth and self-acceptance. Hosted By Millennial Board Members Sean Reed, Kenny Bunch and
Joshua Reed.
ARTS-AND-EDUCATION
PERFORMING ARTS MATTER FINAL
Thursday, February 26
Clarence Muse Cafe Theatre
Free to the Public
Over four hundred students from seven DallasISD schools, ADELLE TURNER, JIMMIE BASHEAR, BILLIE EARL DADE, DANIEL WEBSTER, CHARLES RICE, RONALD E. MCNAIR, MARK TWAIN, BIRDIE ALEXANDER, and HAROLD W. LANG take the spotlight in their final performance presentation. Supported by DallasISD.
22ND ANNUAL WEEKEND FESTIVAL OF BLACK DANCE
RHYTHM AND SOUL OF A PEOPLE
Student Morning Performances
Thursday, 20 & Friday, 21 @ 10am
$5
The Women’s Museum
ATLANTA DANCE CONNECTION returns by popular demand for the sixth consecutive season with the BOOKER T. WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS DANCE ENSEMBLE, premiering three new works, in an evening of modern dance.
MARCH 2026
16th ANNUAL BUDDING ROSE CONCERT Promising Young Artists Series
Friday, 6 @ 10am
Student Morning Performance
$5
Saturday, 7 @ 7:30pm
Public Performance
Moody Performance Hall
2520 Flora Street
$10
Performing music, with excellence, from 300 DallasISD young budding singers from BILLY EARL DADE, BARACK OBAMA MALE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, JOHN W. LEWIS SOCIAL JUSTICE ACADEMY AT O.W. HOLMES, CHARLES RICE LEARNING CENTER, ST. ANTHONY ACADEMY, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR ARTS ACADEMY, HAMPTON PREP and DUNBAR, is magical when these tender voices render a solid variety repertoire of classical, pop, Broadway, spiritual and gospel selections. Coordinated by Carolyn Donnell and Carmalie Simms.
DRESS PERFORMANCE THEATRE SERIES “THE CROSS, THE CRUCIFIXION”
Written and directed by Curtis King
Friday, 13 @ 7:30pm
Saturday, 14 @ 3pm matinee
$10
TBAAL partners for this annual commemorative performance with FRIENDSHIP WEST, ST. JOHN UNLEASHED, WESTSIDE, CONCORD, EAST GATE and other DFW churches’ Music and Fine Arts ministries to present a contemporary dramatization of this Easter musical pageantry about Jesus’ crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection. Creative Artistic Directors: Dr. Michelle Magee-Norfleet, Dr. Clark Joseph, Dr. Patrick Bradley, Ladarius Waits and Jason Ward.
SUNDAY EVENING THEATRE
PROFESSIONAL STAGE READING
“DOT” by COLMAN DOMINGO
Sunday, 29 @ 5 pm
Clarence Muse Café Theatre
$ pay what you can
The holidays are always a wild family affair at the Shealy house. But this year, Dotty and her three grown children gather with more than exchanging presents on their minds. As Dotty struggles to hold on to her memory, her children must fight to balance care for their mother and care for themselves. This twisted and hilarious new play grapples unflinchingly with aging parents, mid-life crises, and the heart of a West Philly neighborhood. This production is supported in part by The Black Seed, a national project funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, in partnership with The Billie Holiday Theatre, New York, New York. Professional Stage Reading directed by AKIN BABATUNDE. Produced by CURTIS KING.
APRIL 2026
DRESS PERFORMANCE THEATRE SERIES
“#BLANDJUSTICE” Written by and starring Djore’ Nance
Friday, 3 & Saturday, 4 @ 8:15pm nightly
Saturday, 4 @ 3pm Matinee
Clarence Muse Café Theatre
$15
This riveting theatrical work, complete with original music, performance poetry and Black church liturgy, honors, as it mourns, the humanity of Black people who were murdered by American police. Hosted by Cheryl Washington.
PROMISING YOUNG ARTISTS
“STRAIGHT FIYAH” CONCERT
Featuring Karleigh Black, Skyler Thompson, Erryn Jackson
Friday, 10 & Saturday, 11 @ 8pm
Clarence Muse Café Theatre
$10
Three of Dallas’ and TBAAL’s young promising singers, dancers and actors perform a full evening’s repertoire, entertaining their peers and patrons with a ‘straight fire’ of theatrical monologues, integrated with choreography and some of their beloved pop and R&B music.
MAY 2026
SUNDAY EVENING THEATRE
PROFESSIONAL STAGE READING
“WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT” by JACKIE SIBBLES-DRURY
Sunday, 17 @ 5 pm
Clarence Muse Café Theatre
$ pay what you can
A group of actors gather to tell the little-known story of the first genocide of the twentieth century. As the full force of a horrific past crashes into the good intentions of the present, what seemed a far-away place and time is suddenly all too close to home. Just whose story are they telling? This award-winning playwright collides the political with the personal in an irreverently funny and seriously brave work.
JUNE 2026
41st ANNUAL SUMMER YOUTH ARTS INSTITUTE
CLASSES:
Monday, 8 – Saturday, 27 @ 9am to 5pm
Institute Registration Fee: $175
PERFORMANCES: Friday, 26 @ 8pm & Saturday, 27 @ 1pm & 4pm
Performance: $5
More than 400 youth ages 10-18 take crash courses in Music, Dance, Theatre, Costume Design, Make-Up, Lighting, Stage Management, Photography and Film/Video. The institute culminates with the large full-scale theatrical production, “THE PRODUCERS! HITS OF BLACK MUSIC” A REVUE.
JULY 2026
INTENSIVE PERFORMING ARTS SUMMER STOCK TRAINING PROGRAM WITH THE MASTERS
CLASSES: Monday, 6 – Friday, 18 @ 10am to 4pm
FINALE PERFORMANCE RECITAL: Saturday, 18 @ 2pm Institute Registration Fee: $200
Seventy-five students who wish to further their careers in the performing arts: music, theatre, and dance, are selected to participate in this special training program with master artists and professional practitioners. Supported in part by the DallasISD Summer Enrichment Extended Learning, Dallas Mavericks, Big Thought and Dallas’ Office of Arts & Culture.
BROADWAY DREAMS
CLASSES: Monday, 27– Friday, 31 @ 10am to 5pm
FINALE PERFORMANCE : Friday, 31 @ 6:30pm
Contact TBAAL for Registration Fee
One-hundred students get a rare opportunity to train and work with some of America’s top notch Broadway actors, theatre and music directors and choreographers in an intense weeklong program which culminates with an exciting performance. Supported in part by the DallasISD Summer Enrichment Extended Learning, Dallas Mavericks, and Dallas’ Office of Arts & Culture.
AUGUST 2026
GALLERY EXHIBITION AND VENUE TOUR
“ACQUISITIONS AND ARTIFACTS! A CHRONOLIGICAL JOURNEY AND PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE BLACK ACADEMY OF ARTS AND LETTERS ARCHIVAL COLLECTION”
Saturday, December 13, 2025 thru Monday, August 31, 2026
Gallery Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10am – 6pm
Saturday, Noon-4pm
James E. Kemp Gallery
Donations Accepted
See some of the institution’s new and original acquisitions and artifacts of photographs, celebrity memorabilia, archival ephemera, institutional documents and the five Emmy-Award statues.
