However, if theatre owners and operators were interested in showcasing more work by Black artists in response to this year's focus on racial injustice, there are over a dozen plays and musicals with Black writers potentially heading to Broadway. These productions have already been written and had successful runs elsewhere, with backing from commercial producers or non-profit organizations. Yet, bringing these shows to Broadway would require making space for producers and artists who may lack the same level of experience as the industry veterans who typically dominate the theatre scene. Playwright Lynn Nottage, who overcame obstacles to reach Broadway with her Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Sweat" in 2017, is hopeful that the theatre world will be more inclusive and representative when it reopens. Currently, three major organizations - Shubert, Nederlander, and Jujamcyn - control three-quarters of the Broadway theatres. To put on a Broadway show, producers typically need to rent a theater and agree to share ticket sales with one of the theater owners. Availability has been limited in recent years due to the success of Broadway, but industry experts predict this will change next year due to the pandemic. The Shuberts, who own the most theaters, are planning to bring a variety of shows back, including those with Black writers, directors, and themes. Among the productions looking for theaters for next spring's Broadway season are a revival of Ntozake Shange's "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf," a revival of Charles Randolph-Wright's "Blue," and a new play by Keenan Scott II called "Thoughts of a Colored Man." Stephanie Ybarra, artistic director of Baltimore Centre Stage, believes "Thoughts of a Colored Man" would be a hit on Broadway. Several musicals are in the works, including "A Strange Loop" by Michael R Jackson, which recently won the Pulitzer Prize for drama. The show is not immediately headed to Broadway, as producer Barbara Whitman was unable to secure a theater last year. However, a non-profit run is planned for next summer at Woolly Mammoth in Washington, with hopes of trying again in New York afterward. Two other musicals with Black writers, "Born for This" and "Paradise Square," are aiming for theaters next spring. "Born for This," a production that has been staged in various cities such as Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles and Washington, is being produced by Ron Gillyard, a music executive. "Paradise Square," which had a production at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, includes Marcus Gardley as one of its book writers and is led by Canadian producer Garth Drabinsky, who is making a comeback after serving time in prison for fraud. Gillyard, who has enlisted the help of longtime theatre industry player Jenny Gersten to navigate Broadway, believes that the industry must be open to new approaches. Nonprofit theatres, which control six of the 41 Broadway houses, have two plays by Black writers planned for the 2021-22 season. The Roundabout Theatre Company will be staging a production of "Trouble in Mind," a play by Alice Childress from 1955 that addresses racism in theatre, that winter as part of their effort to explore lesser-known classics by artists of color, according to Roundabout artistic director Todd Haimes. "It is an exceptional play," he remarked. "Although not an unknown masterpiece, it is a partially discovered masterpiece that did not receive the recognition it deserved due to fear. Second Stage Theatre is planning to present a new comedic play by Nottage in the fall of 2021, which revolves around a sandwich shop that hires formerly incarcerated individuals. The play, previously titled "Floyd's" and performed at the Guthrie Theatre last summer, will be renamed to avoid association with George Floyd. The push for greater diversity on Broadway is crucial for theatre artists as it offers higher salaries and greater opportunities for career growth and impact. Playwright Jocelyn Bioh, known for her success with "School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play," is now working on the book for a new Afrobeat musical, "Goddess," based on a Kenyan myth and set to premiere at Berkeley Rep with the intention of moving to Broadway. Bioh acknowledges the challenge of addressing diversity on Broadway but emphasizes the importance of raising awareness and nurturing a new generation of fearless producers. Next year, three jukebox musicals with Black writers are expected, including "Ain't Too Proud" and "Tina," which had their premieres delayed by the pandemic in 2019." The new musical "MJ," based on Michael Jackson, with a book by Nottage, is set to open in April. While musicals often rely on popular song catalogues for success, plays on Broadway are typically driven by marquee casting. Producer Robyn Goodman is facing challenges bringing Cheryl L West's play "Jar the Floor" to Broadway due to the need for star power. Similarly, Brian Moreland is producing Charles Randolph-Wright's "Blue" with hopes of a Broadway run, but had to settle for the Apollo Theatre in Harlem due to lack of available Broadway venues. He feels optimistic again as he senses a change in the climate. He expressed interest in securing a Broadway theater for the show "For Coloured Girls" and has teamed up with veteran Broadway producer Nelle Nugent in the hopes that her expertise will aid in this goal. The show originally premiered on Broadway in 1976 and was recently revived at the Public Theatre. Camille A. Brown, the choreographer, will now direct on Broadway, taking over from Leah C Gardiner. Several other shows with Black writers are making their way through nonprofit theaters with hopes of reaching Broadway runs. These include "Pass Over" by Antoinette Nwandu, a reimagining of "Waiting for Godot," "Toni Stone" by Lydia Diamond, which tells the story of a female Negro leagues baseball player, and "Gun & Powder" by Angelica Chéri and Ross Baum, a musical about Black twin sisters who posed as white and became bank-robbing outlaws in the 19th century. "Dreaming Zenzile," a show about Miriam Makeba performed by Somi Kakoma and produced by Mara Isaacs, is also in development with the National Black Theatre, with a first production expected at the Repertory Theatre of St Louis. Disney Theatrical Productions is working on a musical adaptation of "Hidden Figures," while Scott Rudin is looking to revive August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson" and potentially produce a commercial run of "The Black Clown," a musical based on a Langston Hughes poem. Some new additions to Broadway have experience in other areas of the entertainment industry. For example, film producer Lauren Shuler Donner is working on a stage adaptation of "The Secret Life of Bees," while film and television producer Lee Daniels is planning to bring "Ain't No Mo'" to Broadway. Daniels faced resistance when discussing the show with Broadway producers due to its unconventional storyline, but he is still determined to bring it to Broadway after the pandemic. He stated that it is the heart of New York City, and we should be located in the center of New York City. Copyright 2020 The New York Times Company.