New Horizon Theater :: Black Sparta
EVENT DETAILS
7:30pm / Friday, November 9 – Saturday, November 10, 2018
3:00pm/ Sunday, November 11, 2018
Kelly Strayhorn Theater
5941 Penn Ave
Presented by New Horizon Theater, Inc
Black Sparta running for four performances is inspired by the Dahomey Amazons or Mino, an all-female military regiment of the Fon people of the Kingdom of Dahomey in the present-day Republic of Benin. They existed from the 17th century to the end of the 19th century. While European narratives refer to the women soldiers as “Amazons” because of their similarity to the semi-mythical Amazons of ancient Anatolia, they called themselves “Mino” (our mothers) in the Fon language.
Dahomey shared with the Spartans an intense fighting method and sense of collectivism. Tough, violent blood-and-guts women single-mindedly devoted to hardening themselves
into ruthless instruments of battlefield destruction, these machete-sword, slinging lady
terminators were rightly-feared throughout Western Africa for over 250 years, not only for their fanatical devotion to battle, but for their refusal to back down or retreat from any fight. They are the only documented frontline female troops in modern warfare history. Their motto was “conquer or die”. Being situated on the western coast of Africa, Dahomey was uniquely positioned to deal with European slavers.
For More Information on Black Sparta Log on to www.BlackSparta.com
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TICKETS
- Friday, November 9, 2018 | 7:30pm
- Saturday, November 10, 2018 | 3:00pm
- Saturday, November 10, 2018 | 7:30pm
- Sunday, November 11, 2018 | 3:00pm
Tickets for this event are monitored by the New Horizon Theater. For questions and/or concerns please contact 412-431- 0773.
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ARTIST BIO
Layon Gray (Writer/Director/Fight Choreographer) Is a theatrical artist that is captivating
audiences with each and every play and film he writes. Gray has spent more than two decades writing, directing and developing stage plays and films that reflect a wide array of cultural movements, creating new paradigms for the stage and motion picture industry. A native of Alexandria Louisiana, Gray quickly ascended as one of Los Angeles’ premiere playwrights earning more than 60 nomination and awards for his works since 2000. Among the honors are 2017 Best Play of Miami, 2016 Broadway League Fellowship Award, 2012 PCTF Award (Best Director), 2012 Al Sharpton Man Of Vision Award, 2011 NYC Inspire Award, 2010 NYC AUDELCO Award (Achievement Award for Excellence); 2009 NAACP Award (Best Ensemble Award); 2009 Hollywood ADA Award (Best Ensemble Award); 2008 MATCHLIFE Artist of the Year; 2007 NAACP Award (Best Producer, Best Play); 2007 MITF Award (Best Play, Best Writer, Best Director, Best Producer); 2006 NAACP Award (Best Play); 2005 Hollywood ADA Award (Best Play); 2004 Hollywood ADA Award (Best Play, Best Writer, Best Director); and 2003 Los Angeles MADDY Award (Best Play, Best Writer, Best Director, Best Ensemble).
Presently, in New York Off-Broadway, his most recent play, Black Angels Over Tuskegee, is
earning great fanfare and buzz from audiences and critics alike now in its 9th year Off-
Broadway. His play Kings Of Harlem recently swept the awards season in Miami winning Best Play, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Ensemble. For more information on Layon send him a note at LayonGray@gmail.com or log on to www.LayonGray.com .
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