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The plaza lobby of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. On the right, a red reception desk with "Welcome" in large white text and black counter. Center, the entrance to the exhibition. To the left of the entrance, a floor-to-ceiling mural wall reads "Syncopated Stages: Black Disruptions to the Great White Way" in bold colorful text; to the right, a large collage of six headshots, each washed with a different bright color

Join us for a free in-person exploration of the newest exhibition at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts: Syncopated Stages: Black Disruptions to the Great White Way. 

Designed for guests who are blind or have low vision, this in-person event will be led by writer and audio describer Mel Watkins and joined by staff from the Library’s Theater Division. It will incorporate verbal description, sensory objects, and discussion.

To register for this in-person exhibition exploration and other events for the blind and low vision community, submit our program registration form.

If you wish to register via email or over the phone, you can reach the Accessibility Team at [email protected] or by calling 212-875-5375.

After you register, you will receive a confirmation email with pre-program information, including the meeting location and details about the program.

About Syncopated Stages: Black Disruptions to the Great White Way:
Although the common nickname for Broadway, “the Great White Way,” refers, historically, to its dazzling lights, the phrase also suggests the ways in which many histories of New York theater center white artists. Black artists, though, have been important shapers of musical theater in the United States before the electric light was ever used on stage. In the early 20th century, Black composers and writers created many popular musicals in New York that helped define the genre, setting it apart from 19th-century traditions.

New forms of syncopation, the disruption of the dominant rhythm, and narratives composed and written by Black artists challenged the prevailing sounds and depictions of Black people on stage. These innovations were more than stylistic. They pushed back against exclusion and stereotype, laying the groundwork for generations of Black artists whose contributions have reshaped Broadway. Syncopated Stages spotlights their work, acknowledges the challenges they faced, and celebrates the brilliance of what they made. We invite you to explore how Black artists transformed the New York stage and how their work still reverberates today.

This exhibition is organized by The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts and curated by playwright, professor, and scholar Michael Dinwiddie. 

 
Location
The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023

For general inquiries, call Guest Experience at 212-875-5456 or email [email protected].

Accessibility

black and white Universal Access Symbol icon
Accessible to wheelchair users; Accessible restrooms and accessible routes
black and white Audio Description icon
Live verbal description for guests who are blind or have low vision
 

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