It does not have to be Sunday to summon up the Mother spirits and pray on Baltimore Center Stage’s Pentecostal powerhouse! I went to church on Saturday night and got anointed by playwright, director, and choreographer nicHi douglas’ vibrant self-described choreopoem (pray).
The final production of Baltimore Center Stage’s 2025/26 season, (pray) is a re-imagination of the Black church experience from a boldly femme artistic perspective grounded in douglas’ vision of a cathartic, healing, immersive, and liberating service that blends Black Southern Pentacostal church traditions with contemporary interpretations of Afrofuturist energy.
In an era when the largest denomination of Southern Baptists decided to retrench on their prohibitions against women in the pulpit, (pray) makes a bold statement about the power of the Divine femme presence in every aspect of their communal faith expression.
The production features original music by acclaimed artists JJJJJerome Ellis, a U.S. Artists Fellow whose work has been presented at the Whitney Biennial, Lincoln Center, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
And for lovers of gospel music, the musical direction and choir have got to be Right! Composer, and performer S T A R R busby’s imprint was felt from the start in the performance of Scott Patterson, (called “A Man to Play Piano” in the playbill) in his bare feet, accompanied by Muzikaldunk on drums and Ray Windor on bass, setting a magical tone from the opening as the choir of church ladies grabbed their “Crowns” and danced to the lyrics of “Me and the Devil” as they proclaim to the unseen male protagonist, “I hate the devil, and he hates me!”
I have got to warn you that (pray) reflects an authentic aspect of the Black church experience in its ambitious 17-item order of service, and that CP time (Colored People) reared its head from the jump!
The anxious audience milled in the lobby of the Head Theater for an extra five minutes until the ushers formally opened the doors of fellowship to an already spirited group of praise dancers, followed by a “late seating” over 20 minutes later.
Also, be prepared to participate in the Black church tradition of passing the peace, as the program offers an opportunity to greet and bear witness to your neighbor, and to roam the aisles for a few minutes. And the reading of announcements encourages visitors to generously support the ministry as they pass the offering plate and even climb a step ladder with an extended pole to reach the balcony.
The cast includes Baltimore-based and Baltimore-rooted artists whose work reflects the city’s creative community, including Tony Award winner CJay Philip, Afro House Artistic Director Scott Patterson, Asteris-Michael Yates as Sister Anna Bertha, and Asya Melan Shaw as The Ancestor, a mystical warrior woman figure who conjured up a remembrance of the maroon runaways to Native American tribal lands.
Aigner Mizzelle delivers an outstanding performance as the curious young visitor, FREE, in her dayglow muscle T-shirt and ripped jeans, who struggles throughout the play to interpret the intergenerational message of (pray). “I want to believe,” she cries out and finally comes to the conclusion that “this is a femme thang!”
This cathartic moment brings NicHi Douglas’s interpretation full circle as she declares, “The space you find yourself in right now is indeed holy, and the Black fem spirit of Baltimore is a large part of the anointing.”
Special kudos to creative team members, including scenic designer Teresa L. Williams, for creating an authentic church environment featuring old-fashioned church benches stage left and right and vibrant stained glass back lighting (lighting design by Josiah Davis). Costume designer Mika Edwards seamlessly weaves in the choir and praise dancers’ church lady dresses with all the vibrant borrowed hues of For Colored Girls…, down to the “Crown” hat designs (wig and hair design by Larry Peterson).
For an authentically engaging spiritual and interactive Black church experience, (pray) delivers a visual and vocal femme-focused minutes of nonstop Pentecostal spiritual energy. But be prepared to share the praise service and get off the back pew.
Running Time: 90 minutes with no intermission.
(pray) plays through July 5, 2026, at Baltimore Center Stage, 700 North Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD. Tickets ($10–$90, with senior and student discounts available) are available at www.centerstage.org/events/pray, by calling the BCS Box Office at 410-332-0033, or in person at the Box Office located at 700 North Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD.
The program for (pray) is online here.
(pray)
A sacred offering created by nicHi douglas
With music by S T A R R Busby & JJJJJerome Ellis
Directed & choreographed by nicHi douglas
