Philadelphia Artists’ Collective and TheBlackBestFriend unite for a production of Alice Childress’ Wine and the Wilderness for Philly Fringe Fest 2022.
The Philadelphia Artists’ Collective (PAC) will start its 12th season with a presentation of Wine in the Wilderness by Alice Childress, directed by AZ Espinoza, which will be performed at Poth Brewery (3145 W. Jefferson St., Philadelphia). In collaboration with TheBlackBestFriend as part of the 2022 Philadelphia Fringe Festival, this show will have a limited engagement from September 22 to October 9, 2022. The opening night for media is scheduled for Saturday, September 24 at 8:00 p.m
Wine in the Wilderness is a play that addresses race, gender, and class through the Harlem race riots of 1964. The events take place in an artist’s apartment as he paints a triptych representing different stages of Black womanhood. Things get complicated when friends bring over someone who might pose for the final painting, revealing new perspectives on power and femininity.
“Wine in the Wilderness was the first ‘classic’ play I read that spoke directly to the Black community with no translations, code switches, or cultural exposition for a non-Black audience,” said Director AZ Espinoza. “The story felt refreshing, liberating, and exciting. It’s important for audiences to know that the conversations we are having today about how to build a better future for our communities have been happening for generations.”
TheBlackBestFriend, a creative center for Black happiness, resilience, and community, is collaborating with PAC for this production. For members of the global majority, TheBlackBestFriend places a high value on radical accessibility to Black stories.
Currently, tickets for Wine in the Wilderness are on sale by visiting fringearts.com. The final week of the run will be available via philartistscollective.org after Fringe concludes. General admission is $30 and student/artist tickets are $10.