Sunday, May 27th at 6:30 p.m., African-American Collective Theater (ACT) presents "Stage & Screen," an evening of short plays-in-progress and underground digital video dramas chronicling contemporary Black gay life in the nation's capital. This performance marks ACT's 9th annual observance of "D.C. Black Pride" which, for 17 consecutive years, has drawn thousands of visitors to Washington over the busy Memorial Day Weekend. "Stage & Screen" showcases home-grown talent, featuring a cast of 24 gifted local actors performing a collection of tales written and directed by ACT artistic director, Alan Sharpe.

The evening opens with a reading of "Storm Signals," a one-act play detailing romantic entanglements among three young lesbians facing their senior year at a Black college. The ten-minute comedy that follows, "Best Man for the Job," illustrates how secrets can still exist between even the best of friends. After intermission, the program continues with the world-premieres of four short, digital video dramas: "All in the Timing," "Moment of Truth," "Check-Out Time," and "Kickin'It," plus the trailer from "Chump ChangeS," ACT's on-line serial drama about a group of Southeast D.C. teens in crisis.

"Stage & Screen" is scheduled to follow the annual D.C. Black Pride Fest earlier that afternoon. The performance begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Warehouse Theater - Main Stage, 1021 Seventh Street, N.W., directly across the street from the D.C. Convention Center festival site. General admission is $15 and seating is limited, with tickets on sale beginning at 4:30 p.m. on the afternoon of the performance in the lobby of the theater, which is conveniently located near METRO's Mt. Vernon Square/Convention Center and Gallery Place/Chinatown stations on the red, green and yellow lines. Ticket and additional info are also available at 202-745-3662, or by e-mail to http://us.f343.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=asharpebgm%40msn.com. This production is suggested for mature audiences only.