Black Box Blackout was born in 2022 to fulfill jazz singer Kristen Warren’s vision to impact her community. Warren, a native of Melbourne, Florida, desired to put forth a production that sheds light on the dynamic contributions of black creatives while giving back to the most vulnerable in Brevard County, Florida.
At its inception, Black Box Blackout impacted over 300 visitors from within the Florida Space Coast. It provided an opportunity to a total of 60 black artists to display their creative work. The events successfully increased diversity exposure in Melbourne, FL. Black Box Blackout 2023 will triple its audience engagement by serving an audience of 900+ and featuring 85 black creatives,
Each year, Black Box Blackout raises money for a very local non profit that directly impacts Black and Brown youth. Last year, Black Box Blackout rasied $500 for Ways of Brevard. For 2023, we are raising a minimum of $1000 for The Children’s Hunger Project.
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Pictured above: Kristen Warren (photo by Lisa Darmana); Shara Kyles (photo by Justice Holiday).
February 1 : Black Box Blackout Soft Opening
February 3 : Black Punk Rock Show!
February 5 : Sunday Dinner
February 6: Comedy Night
February 10 : Lo-fi/Live Arts
February 11: Onyx Opera Show - Last day to purchase tickets for Onyx Opera: February 5
February 15: Film Night
February 18: The Writers’ Room
February 24-26 : The Mountaintop
At its inception, Black Box Blackout impacted over 300 visitors from within the Florida Space Coast. It provided an opportunity to a total of 60 black artists to display their creative work. The events successfully increased diversity exposure in Melbourne, FL. Black Box Blackout 2023 will triple its audience engagement by serving an audience of 900+ and featuring 85 black creatives,
Each year, Black Box Blackout raises money for a very local non profit that directly impacts Black and Brown youth. Last year, Black Box Blackout rasied $500 for Ways of Brevard. For 2023, we are raising a minimum of $1000 for The Children’s Hunger Project.
Pictured above: Kristen Warren (photo by Lisa Darmana); Shara Kyles (photo by Justice Holiday).Calendar of Events
February 1 : Black Box Blackout Soft Opening
February 3 : Black Punk Rock Show!
February 5 : Sunday Dinner
February 6: Comedy Night
February 10 : Lo-fi/Live Arts
February 11: Onyx Opera Show - Last day to purchase tickets for Onyx Opera: February 5
February 15: Film Night
February 18: The Writers’ Room
February 24-26 : The Mountaintop
In the News:
“'So much untapped talent': Black Box Blackout celebrates artistic diversity,” Florida TodayBlackbox Blackout presents
The Mountaintop
Written by Katori Hall
Directed by Pam Harbaugh
Producer
Photographer
The Mountaintop, by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Katori Hall, takes us into the final hours of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is after his prescient "Mountaintop Speech" and he has returned to his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. Hoarse and dog tired, he orders coffee so he can finish writing another speech. We soon meet Camae, an attractive and mysterious maid who brings him coffee, cigarettes, a few laughs and the sobering fact checks that, in the end, he's just a man.
CAST:
Mark Anthony Kelly as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Kristen Warren as Camae
PRODUCTION TEAM:
Director: Pam Harbaugh
Stage Manager: Shara Kyles
Lighting Designer: Pete Jacobsen
Sound Designer: Thom Restivo
Projection Designer: Casey Dodd
Producer/Photographer: Brooke Harbaugh
Blackbox Blackout Project Manager: Kathie Elías
In Cooperation With:
Funky Dog Improv
The Henegar Center
Rocket City Retro
Many Thanks To:
Ken Warren, Wanda Warren,
Tom Mittman, Tom Clifford,
and our founding sponsors Kim and Bud Deffebach
Original Broadway production produced by Jean Doumanian, Sonia Friedman Productions, Ambassador Theatre Group, Raise the Roof 7, Ted Snowdon, Alhadeff Productions/Lauren Doll, B Square + 4 Productions/Broadway Across America, Jacki Barlia Florin/Cooper Federman, Ronnie Planalp/Moellenberg Taylor and Marla Rubin Productions/Blumenthal Performing Arts, in association with Scott Delman.
Directed by Pam Harbaugh
Producer
Photographer
The Mountaintop, by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Katori Hall, takes us into the final hours of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is after his prescient "Mountaintop Speech" and he has returned to his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. Hoarse and dog tired, he orders coffee so he can finish writing another speech. We soon meet Camae, an attractive and mysterious maid who brings him coffee, cigarettes, a few laughs and the sobering fact checks that, in the end, he's just a man.
CAST:
Mark Anthony Kelly as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Kristen Warren as Camae
PRODUCTION TEAM:
Director: Pam Harbaugh
Stage Manager: Shara Kyles
Lighting Designer: Pete Jacobsen
Sound Designer: Thom Restivo
Projection Designer: Casey Dodd
Producer/Photographer: Brooke Harbaugh
Blackbox Blackout Project Manager: Kathie Elías
In Cooperation With:
Funky Dog Improv
The Henegar Center
Rocket City Retro
Many Thanks To:
Ken Warren, Wanda Warren,
Tom Mittman, Tom Clifford,
and our founding sponsors Kim and Bud Deffebach
Original Broadway production produced by Jean Doumanian, Sonia Friedman Productions, Ambassador Theatre Group, Raise the Roof 7, Ted Snowdon, Alhadeff Productions/Lauren Doll, B Square + 4 Productions/Broadway Across America, Jacki Barlia Florin/Cooper Federman, Ronnie Planalp/Moellenberg Taylor and Marla Rubin Productions/Blumenthal Performing Arts, in association with Scott Delman.
BROOKE HARBAUGH
CREATIVE PRODUCER LOS ANGELES, CALIF.
CREATIVE PRODUCER LOS ANGELES, CALIF.