Hosted By
Theatre Memphis

The Nacirema Society…

Apr 28, 2026
Free / Donations accepted

requests the honor of your presence at a celebration of their first one hundred years

by Pearl Cleage

It’s 1964, ten years after the Montgomery bus boycott, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is planning a massive voter registration drive that promises to put the city back at the center of the Civil Rights Movement. Meanwhile the Nacirema Society prepares for its annual introduction of six elegant African-American debutantes to a world of prosperity, privilege and social responsibility. This centennial year, the Society’s grande dame, Grace Dunbar, will have nothing less than perfection for her granddaughter Gracie’s debut. Assisted by her lifelong friend, Catherine, who hopes the cotillion will prompt her grandson to propose to Grace’s granddaughter, the hope the cotillion will prompt Catherine’s grandson to propose to Grace’s granddaughter. And with young love brewing, old family skeletons rattling, national media attention abounding and a blackmail plot bubbling…what would dare go awry?

Directed by Thomas King “TeKay”

Cast includes:

Marie – Venisha Harris

Alpha – Hiawaratha Jackson

Lillie – Mads Jackson

Grace – Monette McLin

Janet – Michelle Mitchell

Bobby – Robrecus Parker

Gracie – Ashley Sade

Catherine – Niambi Webster

Admission:

Free / Donations accepted
Venue
Theatre Memphis / Next Stage
630 Perkins Extd, Memphis, TN 38117
Memphis, TN 38117

Performances

Apr
28
Tuesday, Apr 28
7:00 PM
- 10:00 PM
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Seats up to 411

Both the Lohrey Theatre and the Next Stage Theatre are wheelchair accessible with a handicapped accessible restroom on the same level as the main lobby to both venues. The Lohrey Theatre also provides hearing assisted equipment to any who may require or request it, at no charge.

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(Next Stage is open seating)

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Seats up to 110

The black box Next Stage seats up to 110 and is also wheelchair accessible with state of the art equipment for sound and lighting.