"Black Nativity" Returns w/ Barbara Wanzo and Dimonte Henning

This week on the pod, we welcome Barbara Wanzo and Dimonte Henning to share about Black Arts MKE's production of "Black Nativity," coming up December 9 through 12.

Barbara is the Executive Director of Black Arts MKE. She has invested over 25 years in the corporate sector employing her leadership expertise in new business start-ups, technology, sales and marketing. Making the move to the arts nonprofit sector in 2012, she worked to help organizations with modest resources, enhance their social footprint, brand value and achieve significant community impact and scale. Barbara seized the opportunity to launch a new nonprofit arts organization when hired as Executive Director for Black Arts MKE. Black Arts MKE’s mission is increase the availability and quality African American arts and culture. Working with more than 100 performing artists of color each year, the organization’s goal is to be a catalyst for advancing racial equity and inclusion in Milwaukee, bringing people of all backgrounds together to create a more culturally vibrant and growing community.

Dimonte Henning is honored to be the Director of Black Nativity. He is a passionate believer in Black Theater and providing access for more artists of color to share their story on stage. Dimonte is a proud native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and serves as Artistic Director for theater-arts organization Lights! Camera! Soul! and is a Founding Member of the Milwaukee Black Theater Festival. Dimonte received his formal theater training from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, with additional training from the Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s Emerging Professional Residency Program (2015/2016 season). His previous directing credits include: The Colored Museum (Lights! Camera! Soul!), The Niceties (Forward Theater Co.), and Pretty Fire (MKE Black Theater Fest.). Dimonte’s regional theater credits include: The Island & Deathtrap (Milwaukee Chamber Theater), Stick Fly (Writers Theater), Skeleton Crew (Forward Theater Co.), Our Town, A Christmas Carol, & Dreamgirls (Milwaukee Repertory Theater), The Wiz (First Stage), Black Nativity (Black Arts MKE). TV and commercial credits include: Guest starring roles on NBC’s Chicago PD (Seasons 4&6), Disney’s Encore!, UBER, Inpro Designs, and Harley-Davidson.