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12th annual Columbus Black Theatre Festival kicks off downtown

This year's production features eight original short plays connected by the theme of "Peace Within the Storm."

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The 12th annual Columbus Black Theatre Festival has kicked off in downtown Columbus.

"The Columbus Black Theatre Festival came out of an idea that I had that we needed to have a place in central Ohio for minorities to be able to perform, be seen, produce their work and to get out there," explained Julie Whitney Scott, the festival's founder and artistic director

Whitney Scott holds the festival every year through Mine 4 God Productions, her performing arts organization that strives to promote inclusion, diversity, equity and fellowship to central Ohio theatre while showcasing local talent and lifting up marginalized voices.

"The Columbus Black Theatre Festival is very important for the community, for people of color, but also just for people to see a collection of stories...from various artists around the world," said Alan Tyson, director of the short play "The Ride." "Ms. Julie has really created something that is going to withstand the test of time here."

This year's production features eight original short plays connected by the theme of "Peace Within the Storm."

"I'm hoping that, when the audience leaves, they leave knowing that there's hope for tomorrow and that the storms that [the characters] got through in these eight stories, maybe there's hope I can get through it," said Whitney Scott. "That's what the Black Theatre Festival is about, that's what Mine 4 God Productions is about, and that's what I'm about."

The Columbus Black Theatre Festival runs through July 7 at the Columbus Performing Arts Center. For showtimes and ticket information, click here.

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