“There wasn’t a soul in the audience who wasn’t stomping their feet and clapping along.” – Baltimore Magazine 

Fresh from its sold-out run of Cinderella, ArtsCentric returns to BCS with this warm-hearted, holiday classic! Using a heart-stopping fusion of blues, soul, jazz, spirituals, jubilant dance, and the powerful words of Langston Hughes, BLACK NATIVITY is the joyous retelling of how Jesus came into this world, seen through a unique African American kaleidoscope. This holiday season, gather your family, friends, and loved ones and experience together the show that “spreads joy!” (The New York Times).

In celebration of this production, esteemed composer and music director of the play, Cedric D. Lyles will release the BLACK NATIVITY album. 

What is a Preview?

Previews are an essential part of the theater-making process that allow directors and playwrights to see their plays with audiences for the first time and identify areas for adjustment. These special performances allow you to get a first look at the play and be a part of each shows’ creative journey before it opens officially. 

COMMUNITY DAY – Dec 1 from 1-2:30pm 

Kevin S. McAllister – Director 

Kevin S. McAllister is a director, actor, singer, former professor, and Artistic Director of ArtsCentric, which he co-founded. He has directed over 50 productions for ArtsCentric. Favorites include: Sincerely, Me!, Snapshots, Little Shop of Horrors, and Chicago. He will also lead upcoming productions at Olney Theatre Center and Ford’s Theatre in the upcoming season. Outside of the DMV he serves as the Assistant Director Fellow for the national tour and recently closed Broadway production of Come From Away. He has won 2 Helen Hayes Awards for acting and has been nominated for 8. He can also be heard on the recent Broadway revival cast recording of Caroline, or Change where he portrayed The Dryer and The Bus. When not on stage, he works regularly with young minds around the country as a clinician.

Cedric D. Lyles – Composer

Cedric D. Lyles is a passionate artist with many roles including administrator, arts manager, educator, and performing artist. Originally from Washington, D.C., he received musical training as a child from the Levine School of Music: a skilled pianist and musician who has served Toby’s Dinner Theatre, Everyman Theater, and Baltimore Center Stage. Olney Theater Center and other arts organizations in the D.C./Baltimore Metro area. Cedric has a B.A. in Music from Morgan State, and a Graduate Certificate in Arts Management from American University. As a musical director and performer, he focuses on telling a story through music and encouraging actors to make musical choices that support the story. Cedric is also a composer and arranger with many successful works, including 7:32 the musical (NYMF-2012) and Delilah: a new musical (KC-Page to Stage workshop – Jan 2024). He is a founding board member of ArtsCentric, Inc. and serves as the volunteer Director of Operations and Musical Supervisor.

Langston Hughes – Playwright

Langston Hughes was a defining figure of the 1920s Harlem Renaissance as an influential poet, playwright, novelist, short story writer, essayist, political commentator and social activist. Known as a poet of the people, his work focused on the everyday lives of the Black working class, earning him renown as one of America’s most notable poets.