Uplifting Our Artists: Honoring Black History All Season Long
January 29, 2026
All year long, our organization celebrates Black artists whose creativity, passion, and unique talents enrich Philadelphia’s vibrant arts and cultural landscape. From music and theater to dance, Black artists continue to shape the city’s performing arts scene and inspire audiences across generations.
The Origins of Black History Month
Black History Month began in 1926, when historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson launched Negro History Week through the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH). He chose February to honor the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.
During the Civil Rights Movement, the celebration expanded beyond one week. In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially designated February as Black History Month, recognizing the lasting impact and achievements of African Americans. Today, it remains one of the nation’s oldest and most important cultural observances.
Celebrating Black Artists
In recognition of Black History Month, we invited artists featured in our 2025–26 season to share personal insight and inspiration behind their craft. Their voices reflect the power of storytelling, artistic excellence, and the enduring impact of Black artists on the performing arts in Philadelphia and beyond.
Ariel Dykes - Dancer in Step Afrika!: The Evolution Tour
I hope my work becomes a source of light and inspiration for young artists, just as the trailblazers before me inspired and paved the way for my own journey.
Gavin Hardy - Double Bass Student at the Curtis Institute of Music
I’m proud to be Black because of our history, resilience, creativity, and culture. Our ancestors’ struggles and triumphs remind me that creativity isn’t just expression—it’s a legacy. My cultural background inspires my work, pushing me to tell stories, take risks, and honor where we’ve come from while shaping what’s next. Being Black gives my art depth, soul, and purpose.
Chloë Cheers - Performer in The Notebook
I hope my presence onstage continues to open the door for Black women to play the ingenue and see themselves centered in love.
Tyler Jordan Wesley - Performer in The Outsiders
Artistry yearns for truth—your truth; bring yourself to the work, keep yourself rooted in God and good people. Everything else will fall in place.
Illeana “illy” Kirven - Performer in Chicago
I hope that my art contributes to the ongoing legacy of Black culture and resilience by providing a legacy of tenacity, skill and wherewithal. I wish for future generations to join me in carrying forth the artistry, strength and brilliance of Black people with humility and depth while being open to new arenas of adventure and opportunity.
Charlotte Jenkins - Performer in The Sound of Music
I hope my art honors the legacy of Black culture and resilience by not only showing up with complete authenticity, but with joy and depth. In showing up fully and unapologetically, especially in a piece like The Sound of Music, I really hope to affirm that Black artists belong everywhere, and hope to inspire more inclusive, and imaginative representation in our industry's future.
Camille Capers - Performer in Clue
I’ve always dreamt of opening doors for Black women in theatre and challenging the boxes that we’ve been put into as actresses. I hope to help show people that Black women are versatile, and that there are no limits to the roles we can play on stage.
Jasmine Pearl Villaroel - Performer in Disney's Beauty and the Beast
Unabashedly bring your Blackness into each and every space and all the art that you create. You are your ancestors’ wildest dreams.
Fergie L. Philippe - Performer in Disney's Beauty and the Beast
I am most proud of the vast array of cultural touchstones within the Black experience. My family is Haitian, and I take great pride in coming from a people who are resilient, creatively empowered, and in my opinion, have the best food in the Caribbean. Black does not mean one thing—we exist on every continent on the globe, and we are talented and skilled in every single field. We possess a unified power, but it is expressed in a million different ways. We are all beautifully different; we're not a monolith.