Black Theatre Troupe will open 2024-25, its 55th season, in September.

The Troupe marks its return to Tempe Center for the Arts with the extraordinary musical “The Color Purple.” From its home at the Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center, at 1333 E. Washington St., in downtown Phoenix, the company will present “The Trial of One Short-Sighted Black Woman vs. Mammy Louise and Safreeta Mae,” “Black Nativity,” “The African Company Presents Richard III,” and “Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill.”

Season flex packages for four, three and two plays are on sale starting at $89 at blacktheatretroupe.org or by calling 602-258-8128.

The 2024-25 season includes:

“The Trial of One Short-Sighted Black Woman vs. Mammy Louise and Safreeta Mae,” by Karani Marcia Leslie, Sept. 6-22, at the Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center.

“The Color Purple,” from the book by Marsha Norman, with music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray, Oct. 18-Nov. 3, at Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway.

“Black Nativity,” by Langston Hughes, Dec. 6-15, at the Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center.

“The African Company Presents: Richard III,” by Carlyle Brown, Feb. 7-23, at the Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center.

“Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill,” by Lanie Robertson, March 28 through April 13, at the Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center.

Founded by Helen K. Mason in 1970 as a space for underserved artists to share the Black experience, Black Theatre Troupe began performing small plays, poetry readings, and musical performances in a community center in Phoenix’s historic multi-cultural Eastlake Park.

The Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center is now the company’s permanent home, located at Washington and 14th Streets in downtown Phoenix, exactly two blocks from where it all began.

It features a 150-seat theatre, rehearsal space, costume shop and administrative offices.