Trouble in Mind Playtext

by Alice Childress

A talented and experienced Black actress has been cast in Chaos in Belleville an anti-lynching play set to open on Broadway. She's paid her dues throughout the years playing stereotypical supporting roles in second-rate shows and is ready for her star turn.Chaos in Belleville written by a white playwright might not be quite as enlightened a piece as she's been hoping for - but that doesn't mean it won't sell out. And selling out is the question at the heart of Alice Childress's comedy-drama. A cast of multi-generational Black actors rehearse under the purview of a white director and stage manager and as the rehearsal process unfolds theatre conventions and racial politics collide resulting in a surprisingly funny yet deeply piercing look at the entertainment industry.