The sudden death of Michelle Ross is heartbreaking news for many of us who adored the queen.

The Negroes Are Congregating is a relentless, in your face, mélange of sketch, vignette and spoken word that takes you to church and into the Black psyche living with anti-Black racism, all without missing a beat. The play is intricate, funny, contemplative, and incredibly fast-paced.

You don’t need to be a parent to appreciate the joy, frustration and superhuman traits shared by mothers from all walks of life. But when a tuner like Motherhood: The Musical comes along with parodies titled ‘Ode to Boobs’ and ‘Costco Queen’, the monotony of mommy life becomes a comedic celebration of pregnancy, empty nesting and everything in between.

A long-suffering Black maid living in 1963 Louisiana is stuck in a world she despises. Through a rainbow of musical genres, powerful life lessons and emotional evolution the musical Caroline, Or Change, offers universal resonance.

Montreal born, Edmonton raised actor Dion Johnstone has been preparing for his latest role since he was a child. “My first introduction to Shakespeare was through comic books. There were these series of comics produced in the ’60s, early ’70s called Classics Illustrated and funny enough, the first comic book I read, was Julius Caesar. I loved it because I was reading the language and able to connect with the visuals and the fear of the language was taken care of really early.”

ByBlacks Review: BBBB*

The work of Jamaican cultural icon Louise Bennett-Coverley -- known to many as Miss Lou -- is so seminal and far-reaching that commemorating the centenary of her birth requires 100 days of celebrations.

BYBLACKS RATING: BBB 1/2

“If you haven't seen Cleo, you haven't seen the chick who tops 'em all...She's 6'2" of Dynamite!” The tagline for the 1973 Blaxploitation film Cleopatra Jones lets you know the important facts about the woman in charge — and Lana Lovell’s theatrical debut Elbow Room approaches the classic from a new angle.

KIRA celebrates humanity as one village, and its sacred bond to Mother Nature in this evocative work of dance, live percussion, and chants by renowned Guinean artist Fara Tolno.