Blackboard Reading Series
Devoted to Black Playwrights throughout the African Diaspora
In 2008, Garlia had the idea for a reading series devoted to Black playwrigths that was structured after poetry open mics, with Features and Open Mic Nights. What became was Blackboard Reading Series, named by Founding Artistic Director of the cell, Nancy Manocherian for the Blackboard wall at what became their artistic home. the cell is a white box theatre in Manhattan's Chelsea.
Visit Blackboard's website to learn more about the organization, submit your play, attend a featured reading or community night and much much more!
Producer
Harlem9
Celebrating the past, present and future of Black theatre with an annual Harlem event!
Garlia is a Founding Producer of this producing collaborative. 48Hours In... Harlem™ is the annual event produced by Harlem9, bringing together 6 playwrights, 6 directors and 18 actors, who re-conceive classic plays from the African Diaspora over the course of one weekend in Harlem.
Founded in 2010, Harlem9 is comprised of a group of Black theatre professionals from various backgrounds whose goal is to produce together in Harlem, exploring the past, present and future of black culture, celebrating its rich and diverse history of storytelling.
Visit the Harlem9 website to learn more about the participating artists and the next 48Hours In...Harlem™ weekend!
2014 OBIE Award Winner
As an OBIE Award winning theatre producer, Garlia has been involved with two organizations providing opportunities for Black Playwrights and theatre artists in New York. This work can be seen as an extension of her Masters work in African American and African Diaspora Studies at Indiana University, where the goal was always to work with theatre that uplifted the Black experience and told the stories of Blacks in America and across the diaspora.
