Definition Theatre: Black Cypress Bayou by Kristen Adele Calhoun

A Chicago Premiere

Black Cypress Bayou

by Kristen Adele Calhoun
directed by Ericka Ratcliff

-

February 13 – March 15, 2026

at Definition Theatre, 1160 E 55th. St

Learn more: definitiontheatre.org/shows/black-cypress

Online ticket sales end one hour before each performance. Remaining tickets will be available for purchase at the door until showtime.

-

About Black Cypress Bayou

On a sweltering Texas night in the middle of a pandemic, Vernita Manifold calls her daughters home to the bayou—and to a secret that's about to explode. The richest man in East Texas has turned up dead on their property, and the Manifold women know better than to call the police. As LadyBird and RaeMeka clash over what to do, the mysterious Taysha arrives, and buried truths begin to rise from the swamp.

What starts as wickedly funny family chaos transforms into a powerful reckoning with history itself. Step into this razor-sharp Chicago premiere where loyalty is tested, souls refuse to stay silent, and reparations come knocking from beyond the grave.

Learn more at definitiontheatre.org

-

About Definition Theatre

We celebrate stories created with, inspired by, and intended for people and communities of color. Through the act of making, Definition expands perspectives, stewards resources, and bridges the possibility found at the intersection of art, innovation, and education.

We are a cultural hub that amplifies and archives BIPOC voices, visions, and stories as catalysts for social justice, racial healing, and conversations that explore the challenges and joys of our everyday lives. Discover the ways in which our vision directly impacts our work.