The Black History Museum…According to the United States of America
Closed 2h 0m
The Black History Museum…According to the United States of America
90

The Black History Museum…According to the United States of America NYC Reviews and Tickets

90%
(9 Ratings)
Positive
100%
Mixed
0%
Negative
0%
Members say
Ambitious, Relevant, Must see, Profound, Resonant

About the Show

This world premiere employs satirical visual art, performance, sound installation, and dance to explore the American notion of ‘Blackness.'

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Show-Score Member Reviews (9)

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131 Reviews | 18 Followers
100
Resonant, Relevant, Profound, Intense, Ambitious

See it if you want to experience a genuinely transformational production that's equal parts moving, funny, challenging and thought provoking.

Don't see it if you don't like theater to challenge you. This show makes great efforts to never shame audience members but might make some uncomfortable. Read more

165 Reviews | 22 Followers
92
Masterful, Great writing, Clever

See it if If you really want to know about the difficulties Black people have felt and still feel living in America.It is done through song,dance and

Don't see it if If you don't want to know about the history of Blacks in America.If you are not open-minded.If you don't want to know our contributions. Read more

373 Reviews | 98 Followers
90
Must see, Thought-provoking, Unique, Ambitious, Immersive

See it if you are ready, willing and able to be swept into an all-encompassing, profound, truthful & riveting history of black people in America

Don't see it if you cannot stand for 2 hours; not open to unusual theatrical experience, do not care to participate & get personal with ugly American truths Read more

334 Reviews | 37 Followers
90
Quirky, Resonant, Great staging, Entertaining, Ambitious

See it if You like great creative installations that deal with serious subjects of race and history in an innovative and well executed manner

Don't see it if It can be a bit heavy handed but clever nonetheless but you have to be prepared to stand for 2 hrs It is not a passive experience

659 Reviews | 103 Followers
82
Relevant

See it if Black American history through current lens of social, cultural, political consciousness with sassy commentary.

Don't see it if More critical race talk or mockery of online or light activism makes you uncomfortable. Some down time between some immersive parts. Read more

774 Reviews | 246 Followers
80
Informative, Creative, Vehement, Disturbing, Thought-provoking

See it if Immersive mixed media history of black oppression in the USA. Biting live skits, dance & exhibits.

Don't see it if You don't want to be on your feet. Shouting, angry segments are less effective than the quieter ones. Read more

27 Reviews | 15 Followers
91
Must see, Ambitious, Great acting, Great writing, Profound

See it if This is the most important piece of immersive theatre I have seen. You are forced to participate in history and it will resonate.

Don't see it if There may be a few kinks to work out..it’s still in previews, but I can’t wait to see this again. Should be mandatory for everyone to go. Read more

9 Reviews | 6 Followers
98
Exquisite, Must see, Relevant, Intense, Absorbing

See it if You want to see the best of what downtown theater has to offer. A beautifully executed, thought provoking piece of immersive theater.

Don't see it if You don't want to see immersive theater (or you don't want to stand for over 45 minutes at a time)

Critic Reviews (5)

The New York Times
November 14th, 2019

"Learn. Laugh. Suffer. Move Along.: An immersive play crossed with an art installation offers sharp angles on race and white supremacy, but is dampened by didactism."
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AM New York
November 14th, 2019

"The production team may want to consider tightening the show...Some portions also become so didactic and aggressive in tone that it begins to feel like a work of propaganda. Nevertheless, 'The Black Museum' makes for a freewheeling, intelligent and provocative piece of theater."
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Lighting & Sound America
November 12th, 2019

"Overambitious, overlong, and sometimes awkwardly staged, 'The Black History Museum' is, nevertheless, packed with moments of revelation. At the very least, it reminds one of the richness and complexity of its subject; there's enough material here for hundreds of good plays."
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New York Theater
November 10th, 2019

Every inch of HERE Arts Center has been transformed in… an impressively ambitious collaborative effort ..Illuminating, depressing, enraging, amusing, inspiring…overwhelming….In its effort to be exhaustive, 'The Black History Museum' threatens to feel exhausting."
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Theatre's Leiter Side
November 13th, 2019

"Taken as a unified experience, the exhibit and performances…are profoundly informative and emotionally disturbing. Although there may simply be too much to absorb in so brief a time, the packaging is theatrically entertaining and well-produced."
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