APP TODAY. IT HAS BEEN A WHILE BUT THE NATIONAL BLACK THEATER FESTIVAL WILL RETURN TO WINSTON-SALEM THIS YEAR. IT’S THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE PASSING OF SYLVIA SPRINKLE HAMLIN WHO ALONG WITH HER LEAT HUSBAND LARRY LEON HAMLIN WERE VITAL IN CREATING AND GROWING THAT FESTIVAL RIGHT WXI TOOLS FORT HAT. IT SHOWS US HOW THE NORTH CAROLINA BLACK REPERTORY COMPANY SHARED THEIR PLANS TO CARRY ON THE FAMILY’S LEGACY. LIKE SO MANY OERTH ASPECTS OF LIFE THE NATIONAL BLACK THEATER FESTIVAL WAS UP ENDED BYHE T COVID-19 PANDEMIC, BUT NEARLY THREE YEARS AWAY THE IS COMING BACK TO WINSTON-SALEM? WE CERTAINLY KNOW THAT A LOT HAS CHANGED IN THE PAST FEW. OUR CITY IN OUR STATE AND OUR WORLD, BUT DESTEPI THESE CHANGES. WE LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING BLACK THEATER BACKO T YOU IN 2022 MONDAY THE FESTIVAL ANNOUNCED TWO CELEBRITY CO-CHAIRS FOR TSHI YEAR’S EVENT, JUDGE JUDY BAILIFF PETRIE HAWKSIN BIRD AND ACTRESS LISA ARENDELLE, THE FESTIVAL HOPES TO PICK UP RIGHT WHERE IT LEFT OFF. FOR THE PANDEMIC 2019 WAS THE BIGGEST FESTIVAL WE’VE EVER HAD WE HADOR ME ATTENDEES THE PRODUCTION SOLD OUT. SO WE JUST WTAN TO KPEE GROWING AND AND DESPITE THE TWO AND A HALF YEAR LAYOFF. LIKE I SAID, I THINK PEOPLE ARE REALLY HUNGRY TO COME BACK THE CITY OF WINSTON-SALEM CONTINUES TO LEND ITS SUPPORT TO THE FESTIVAL AND SSAY IT’S PROUD TO CALL ITSELF. ETH FESTIVAL’S HOME SINCE 1989 THE FESTILVA WILL ATTRACT AROUND 60,000 VISITORSO T OUR CITY FROM THE PROFESONSIAL ACTORANDS PERSON, WELL, IT’S GUESTS COMING FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. SO IT TURNS OUR CITY PURPLE FOR THOSE DAYS THAT’S GOING ON AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT NOW THE UNCOTDOWN IS ON UNTIL THE FESTIVAL ARRIVES LATER THIS YEAR. I’VE BEEN GETTING EMAILS FOR THE PAST YEAR WHEN WE HAD TO POSTNEPO LAST YEAR EVERY MONTH. IT SEEDME I GOT AN EMAILND A ONCE JANUARY HIT EVERYONE EVERYONE IS READY TO COME BACK. YOU KNOW, IT’S LIKE A THE FESTIVAL IS A REUNION FOR BLACK THEATER AND TYHE MISSED IT. EVERYONE MISSED. EVERYONE HAS BEEN LOCKED UP FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS. SO I THINK PEOPLE ARE REALLY READY TO GET BACK. AND THE FESTIVAL WILL TAKE PLACE HERE IN WINSTON-SALEM THE FIRST WEEK OF