Congratulations to the Columbia College Chicago Theatre and Dance alums and faculty members who are nominated for the Black Arts & Culture Alliance of Chicago‘s 2025 Black Excellence Awards honoring and celebrating Chicago theatre, dance, music, film, literary, and visual artists.

In the area of Theatre, the nominees in the category of Production Director include Columbia College alum Ilesa Duncan ’99; former Columbia College Theatre student Carla Stillwell, managing director of Collaboraction Theatre; and Daryl Brooks, producing managing director of Black Ensemble Theater and a faculty member at the Columbia College Chicago School of Theatre and Dance.

The nominees in the category of Actor/Male include Tamarus Harvell, a former student in the Columbia College Theatre Program’s Acting Program. Nominees in the category of Actor/Female include Columbia College alum Caitlin Dobbins ’20, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s Musical Theatre BA program.

In the category of Special Recognition Actor/Actress, the nominees include former Columbia College Theatre Program Acting program student AnJi White.

In the area of Dance, the nominees in the category of Performance include Red Clay Dance Company, a troupe founded and led by Columbia College alum Vershawn Sanders-Ward ’02, a graduate of Columbia College’s Dance BFA program.

The awards presentations will take place Monday, November 3, 2025, at the Black Ensemble Theater, located at 4450 N. Clark in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. For more information, click here.

Founded in 1997 as the African American Arts Alliance of Chicago and rebranded the Black Arts & Cultural Alliance of Chicago (BACA) in 2023, BACA offers a diverse range of events and programs that celebrate the rich heritage of the Black arts community in Chicago. Events and programs are designed to engage, educate, and inspire individuals (artists and patrons) who are passionate about Chicago’s Black arts and culture. The mission of the Black Arts & Culture Alliance of Chicago is to collectively advance excellence in the work of the Black arts and culture sector. The Alliance works to increase interaction, communication and development of black arts organizations and artists, while delivering programs that increase their visibility, marketability, stability, and sustainability.