Our American Cousin, by Quinn D. Eli, opens on Earl, an African American performer trying to leave his Tyler-Perry-esque drag act, Big Fat Mabel, for a career as a socially conscious songwriter. His plans are foiled by the theater’s manager, Gwen, his cousin and parole officer. What follows is a fascinating exchange that explores the two characters’ shared past and the current state of African American entertainment.
Again, by Kimmika L. H. Williams-Witherspoon tells the story of a Man and a Woman who wake to find themselves in a strange waiting room. While the man is quite calm, the woman is shocked to discover that she’s now black. Through a series of hilarious hysterics they explore what it means to be black as they await their new roles in the real world.