Fresh out of the auditorium after watching Brévo Theatre’s production of Langston Hughes’ classic, “Black Nativity,” Darlene Hargrove had one takeaway:
“They’ve made the birth of Christ come alive; this is what it’s about. It’s not about the presents. It’s not about the history. It’s about life.”
Forget the reindeer and the snow. Brévo Theatre is redefining the South Florida holiday season with a powerful explosion of faith, music and culture. Running from Dec. 11 to Dec. 14 at the Sandrell Rivers Theater for its second consecutive year, the company’s performance of “Black Nativity” was more than a stage production; it was a deeply moving celebration of joy, hope and love rooted in Black tradition.
“It’s the nativity story, the birth of Jesus Christ, but it is just told using gospel music, spirituals, and African music,” said Zaylin Yates, director and founding managing director of Brévo Theatre.
A story reimagined
Although numerous holiday staples — such as “A Christmas Carol” and “The Nutcracker” — are commonly presented from a white cultural viewpoint, Langston Hughes’ “Black Nativity” broke that conventional pattern when it debuted in 1961. The play reinterprets the story of Mary and Joseph using American cultural elements and combining gospel, spirituals and African rhythms into a reverent yet intimately recognizable narration.
For Brévo Theatre, bringing “Black Nativity” to the stage has been a mission years in the making, but always with one straightforward goal: to elevate the story…