APP. BRIANA: THE NATIONAL BLACK THEATRE FESTIVAL BRINGS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO WINSTON-SALEM. THIS TIME AROUND, ORGANIZER HOPEFUL THEY CAN BRING ALL THE SHOWS TO TOWN SAFELY. NEW TONIGHT, COLETTE STEIN EXPLAINS THE IDEA THAT’S GAINING A RECORD AMOUNT OF SUPPORT . COLETTE: FIVE DAYS BEFORE OPENING DAY OF "FREEDOM SUMMER," NORTH CAROLINA BLACK REPERTORY COMPANY WAS FORCED TO SHUT THEIR DOORS BECAUSE OF COVID-19. JUST IN TIME FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH, THEY HAVE FOUND A WAY TO MAKE A VIRTUAL COMEBACK, ALLOWING THE WORLD TO BRING THE THEATRE INTO THEIR HOMES. >> SO LUCKILY, THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY UP IN BOON, THEY HAD A NEW FOUR-CAMERA TRICASTER SYSTEM, AND WE WERE ABLE TO FILM IT. IT TELLS THE STORY OF TWO SISTERS. NORA, WHO IS PASSING AS WHITE IN BOSTON, AND HER SISTER, CARRIE, WHO IS ABOUT TO TRAVEL TO TH VOTE. COLETTE: THE COMPANY IS BEST KNOWN FOR PRODUCING THE NATIONAL BLACK THEATRE FESTIVAL. IT BRINGS AUDIENCES FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO WINSTON-SALEM. THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL, SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST, ALREADY HAS MORE RESERVATIONS THAN IT DID IN 2019, WHICH WAS THE LARGEST FESTIVAL THE COMPANY HAS EVER HAD. ALTHOUGH THE PLANS AREN’T FINAL JUST YET, DIRECTOR OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BLACK REPERTORY COMPANY JACKIE ALEXANDER IS RELIEVED TO HAVE A PLAN. >> I KNOW THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN REALLY ROUGH ON OUR THEATRE, AND I KNOW IT HAS BEEN ROUGH ON THEATRES, PERFORMING ARTS, EVERYWHERE. SO REACH OUT TO YOUR LOCAL ARTS ORGANIZATION. IF YOU HAVE A FAVORITE THEATRE, FAVORITE DANCE COMPANY, FAVORITE SYMPHONY. THEY NEED YOUR SUPPORT MORE THAN EVER NOW. COLETTE: IN WINSTON-SALEM, COLETTE STEI