BIPOC Critics Lab Commissions

The BIPOC Critics Lab was founded in 2020 by journalist Jose Solís, as a first-of-its-kind program designed to train and create work by emerging BIPOC theater journalists. The training program culminates with a writing assignment for each participant, and The Public has committed to commissioning all current and alumni writers in the Lab.

To learn more about the program or how to host a Lab at your theater, click here.

Please reach out to us at BIPOCCriticsLab@publictheater.org for any inquiries.

Commissions by Season

24-25 Commissions

Tales, Tangles, and The Twisted Truths We Live By: Unraveling the Threads of GLASS. KILL. WHAT IF IF ONLY. IMP. By Miranda Purcell

SUMO: A Conversation with Wilson Chin and Mariko Ohigashi by Katsuto Sakogashira

GATZ In Conversation: Dezi Tibbs featuring John Collins and Jack Phillips Moore

GOOD BONES: A Reaffirming of Community by Cynthia L. Dorsey

DEEP HISTORY: A Conversation with David Finnigan by Eliseo Valerio

A Reflection on the 2024 Mobile Unit Production of THE COMEDY OF ERRORS by Maria Paz Alegre

23-24 Commissions

SALLY & TOM: A Conversation with Steve H. Broadnax III by Octavia Washington

THE ALLY: A Conversation with Elijah Jones, Michael Khalid Karadsheh, Ben Rosenfield, and Madeline Weinstein by Nassim Abu Sarari

A Conversation with the 2023-24 Devised Theater Working Group

MANAHATTA: Q&A with Ty Defoe by Jesús Garibay

HELL'S KITCHEN: Q&A with Dede Ayite by Lia Christine Dewey

HAMLET: Q&A with Jason Michael Webb by David Quang Pham

22-23 Commissions

MOBILE UNIT: Q&A with Karen Ann Daniels and Patricia McGregor by Jessica Alvarez

MERRY WIVES: Discussion with Jocelyn Bioh & Dawn-Elin Fraser about crafting Shakespearean Characters that Call Harlem Home with Brittani Samuel

MERRY WIVES: Q&A with Michael Thurber and Farai Malianga by Alexi Chacon

OUT OF TIME: Q&A with Kimie Nishikawa & Reza Behjat by Kathlynn Alba

THE CHINESE LADY: Q&A with Ralph B. Pena & Lloyd Suh by Rishi Mutalik

THE VAGRANT TRILOGY: Q&A with Tala Ashe & Ramsey Faragallah by Angela Maria Ramos

SUFFS: Q&A with Raja Feather Kelly by Des'ree Brown

FAT HAM: Q&A with Saheem Ali & James Ijames by J. Gabriel Ware

A Women's History Month Conversation with Ekemini Ekpo

21-22 Commissions

AS YOU LIKE IT: Q&A with Alma Hueston & Naomi Pierre by Scheherazade Quiroga

BALDWIN & BUCKLEY: Q&A with Greig Sargeant & John Collins by Vuyozaki Mtukela

A Conversation with the Joe's Pub: In Concert Artists by Matre Grant

A Conversation with the Devised Theater Working Group by Christopher Reyes

THE HARDER THEY COME: Q&A with Earon Chew Nealey by Afrikah Selah

DARK DISABLED STORIES: Q&A with Dickie Hearts & Andrew Morrill by Gamaliel Arroyo

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS: Q&A with Rebecca Martínez and Julián Mesri by Julia "Juju" Nieto

SHADOW/LAND: Q&A with Jill M. Vallery by Annie Nguyen