A powerful reimagining of the American courtroom is headed to Brooklyn. Twelve Angry Black Women, a new experimental play by Andrea Ambam, will receive a staged reading. The one-night-only event takes place January 29, 2026, from 7–9 PM at The Billie Holiday Theatre on the legendary Brooklyn stage as part of the theatre’s 2025–26 Season and its bi-annual Black Narrative series.
Presented by The Billie Holiday Theatre in partnership with Hi-ARTS and Level Forward, the reading reimagines the classic courtroom drama through a Black feminist lens. The story centers on an unprecedented case in American history, placing its outcome in the hands of an all-Black, all-femme jury within a United States grappling with democratic backsliding. Blending satire, ritual, and reenactment, the play interrogates what happens when Black women move beyond resilience and into righteous rage.
The staged reading is directed and choreographed by Obie Award winner nicHi douglas, with original music composed by Obie Award winner S T A R R busby.
The Cast (Members of the Jury)
The evening features an ensemble of stage, film, and television standouts, including:
- Kimberly Marable
- Cassandra Freeman
- Alfie Fuller
- Tina Fabrique
- Nile Assata Harris
- N’yomi Allure Stewart
- Gail Bean
- DeWanda Wise
- Kai Heath
- Adrianna Mitchell
- Bisserat Tseggai
- Janelle McDermoth
Community Partnership
Adding to the evening’s impact, the African American Policy Forum—led by Kimberlé Crenshaw—will participate as a community partner, highlighting its ongoing work defending democracy and confronting censorship.
Tickets for the staged reading are priced at $25, with key art designed by Cristian Mera. The event invites audiences to take their seats for “jury duty” in Brooklyn—promising an urgent, thought-provoking night that blends theatre, politics, and collective reckoning.
For tickets, click here.