“If you won’t open the door, I’ll get up and open it myself.” — James Brown The Drinking Gourd brings professional and community-based Black theatres together to share resources, exchange ideas, and support the development and production of work by Black playwrights. When Black theatre leaders from across The Drinking Gourd network recently gathered, they sat down for candid conversations about the triumphs, challenges, and realities of running a Black theatre company. In this first conversation, Eileen J. Morris of The Ensemble Theatre and Valerie Curtis-Newton of the Hansberry Project explore authenticity as a powerful marketing strategy, sharing how they connect with audiences, build community, and stay true to their missions. At True Colors, we’re proud to be part of The Drinking Gourd and its mission to champion Black playwrights. Most recently, we brought that mission to life with the world premiere of Tank Stranger by James Ijames, directed by our Artistic Director, Jamil Jude. Because when the door won’t open, we build our own and bring our community through it.