History:
Since 2006, Hattiloo has honored playwright August Wilson's contribution to America's literary canon by producing one of his plays each season. We stage celebrated musicals such as The Wiz, Ain't Misbehavin', and Dreamgirls, along with traditional plays like For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf, A Raisin in the Sun, and The Colored Museum.
At Hattiloo, we value and celebrate the cultural diversity and rich history of Memphis and the Mid-South region. As a Black repertory, we focus on works written by and/or about African-Americans. We frequently partner with other arts organizations and nonprofits in collaborative projects that expand and diversify audiences. In the recent past we have collaborated with Ballet Memphis and The Dixon Gallery and Gardens.
We maintain a robust slate of free community education and outreach programs as part of our "ArtReach" initiative, including live theatre staged in neighborhoods across the city, symposiums, panel discussions, and festivals. We also offer free, year-round youth programming, including Hattiloo Children's Theatre and Camp Awareness. Our productions and outreach programs are designed to complement each other in pursuit of our mission, serving as a lens into African-American culture for thousands of citizens, and as a gateway to the arts for thousands more.
