Beneath a single spotlight with a few props and a costume, the life of the late poet, actress, activist and trailblazer Beah Richards, will take shape. Dena Hurst Semmons breathes life into a new production of the words and ideas of the late actress, Beah Richards. Semmons renders a powerful portrayal of the legendary actress, poet, playwright, civil rights activist and trailblazer who was blacklisted for her activities in the early Sixties. Richards looms tall among American actors with a career that ultimately spanned more than 50 years in film, on TV and onstage. As an actress and artist, Richards vowed never to betray her people. With a very dark complexion and full facial features, Richards overcame both discrimination from Hollywood and from within her race, and played many film roles, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s, with dignity and grace. She received a supporting-actress Oscar nomination for playing Sidney Poitier's mother in 1967's “Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?” Her other film credits include the 1967 version of “In the Heat of the Night,” “Hurry Sundown,” “Drugstore Cowboy,” “Mahogany,” “The Great White Hope” and “Beloved.” Richards earned three Emmy Awards, the first coming in 1988 for a supporting role on “Frank’s Place,” and the last one coming shortly before her death in 2000 for a guest appearance on “The Practice.” Additional TV appearances included “Big Valley,” “I Spy,” “Roots: The Next Generation,” “ER,” “The Bill Cosby Show,” “The Facts Of Life” and “Designing Women.” Her on-stage credits include a Tony-nominated performance in James Baldwin’s “The Amen Corner,” playing the family matriarch Lena Younger in Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun” and and role in Ossie Davis’ “Purlie Victorious.” Richards also published three books — “One is A Crowd,” “A Black Woman Speaks” and “A Black Woman Speaks and Other Poems.” During the last year of her life, Richards shared the insights and truths she had gained during her celebrated and sometimes controversial career. with actress Lisa Gay Hamilton (The Practice.) The two became acquainted while working on the movie “Beloved.” Starting in 1999, Hamilton sat down with Richards for a series of in-depth and honest conversations. The set of interviews led to Hamilton’s directorial debut and the exclusive HBO documentary “Beah: A Black Woman Speaks,” which debuted on HBO in February of this year. The film recently won the Grand Jury Prize at the AFI Film Festival.

VIP TICKET INFORMATION VIP Tickets are available for $25 per person and include Reserved VIP Seating and admission to the Private Post-Show Reception, which includes Hors d' Ouevres, Desserts, and a Meet-and-Greet with Ms. Semmons. A limited number of VIP Tickets are available exclusively at Mitchie's.