This show has been canceled.

For generations, Black communities have held conversations about what it means to be a Black man - at barbershops, family gatherings, churches, on front porches, and in quiet moments between fathers, sons, brothers, partners, and friends. Some conversations are filled with laughter, others with pain, but all deserve to be heard.

BLACK D*CK MATTERS, the powerful new play by acclaimed Seattle playwright Kathya Alexander, brings those conversations to the stage. Directed by Tyrone Brown (Nxt Thrsdy) and presented by The BTMR Project as part of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, this ensemble production offers an honest and deeply human exploration of Black masculinity.

Performed by a six-member cast traveling from Seattle with its creative team, the production creates a cultural exchange between two cities with rich Black artistic traditions. Through lyrical storytelling, movement, and spoken word, the play explores identity, family, intimacy, vulnerability, resilience, and joy while honoring the complexity of Black men's lived experiences.

Presented at IPAM, the intimate venue places audiences just steps away from the performers, creating a shared experience where every word, silence, and emotion lands with uncommon immediacy. The closeness of the space invites audiences to witness these stories not as distant observers, but as participants in a collective conversation.

Philadelphia has long been a city where Black artists and communities have shaped culture and challenged the status quo. BLACK D*CK MATTERS arrives in that spirit, building a bridge between Seattle and Philadelphia through theatre that sparks dialogue, deepens understanding, and celebrates the humanity, strength, and beauty of Black life.

This is more than a play. It's an invitation to gather, listen, and leave transformed.