Alva Rogers

Playwright Alva Rogers’
writing utilizes magic realism to explore themes of American identity and “the
uses of enchantment.” Her dream of becoming a playwright began after reading
Lorraine Hansberry’s “To Be Young Gifted and Black” when she was
seventeen. While on this circuitous journey, she has received Master of Fine
Arts degrees from Brown University and NYU and a Master of Arts in
Teaching Program in History from Bard College.

She was a co-founder, lead
performer and muse of Rodeo Caldonia, a performance collective and theater
troupe whose sold-out performances spanned the period from 1985-1989. Rogers
and her work with Rodeo will be featured in the upcoming traveling exhibition, We Wanted A Revolution: Black Radical Women
1965-85 at the Brooklyn Museum (April-September 2017). Her works for the
stage include scooping the darkness empty
(Public Theater commission); the doll plays,
(Actor’s Express Theater production); the musicals Night bathing, Sunday, and
the Mermaid (Bruce Monroe, composer), have been presented in the
Public Theater’s New Work Now Festival. Radio plays Aunt Aida’s Hand and Stained
were produced for National Public Radio. She’s featured in the film, Daughters of the Dust.