NEWPORT NEWS, VA, Feb. 25, 2025 – Acclaimed actress, writer, and filmmaker Morgan McCoy
Harris is returning to her hometown of Newport News for a series of performances celebrating Black
History Month. While originally set for three programs, two will take place as planned, but her
signature show, Evolution of a Black Girl, has been rescheduled for April, giving audiences
something to look forward to.
“This is where it all began for me as an artist,” McCoy Harris says. “I took my very first acting class
here as a child, and now I get to return and share these incredible stories with the community that
helped shape me.” The shows include:
First Class: A Film Screening & Conversation
Torggler Fine Arts Center, Christopher Newport University
Feb. 26 | 6:30 p.m. | Free
This screening of First Class shares the back story of Hampton University and talks about the life of
James A. Fields, an emancipated man who became a trailblazing lawyer, politician, and property
owner in Newport News. McCoy Harris will discuss the film’s creation and Fields’ legacy.
Bricks Without Straw: Women of History Who Built an Empire
Gaines Theater, Christopher Newport University
Feb. 27 | 7 p.m. | Free | Limited seating | Registration requested
This dynamic one-woman show brings to life pioneering African American female entrepreneurs
who defied the odds. Through riveting portrayals, McCoy Harris highlights their struggles, triumphs,
and wisdom.
Evolution of a Black Girl: From the Slave House to the White House
Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center
Rescheduled for April 4 | Purchase tickets here.
McCoy Harris’ nationally toured signature production portrays 12 historical figures, taking audiences
on a journey from 1600s Africa to modern America. Originally sponsored by Academy Award
winner Lou Gossett Jr., this ticketed event benefits The Newsome House Foundation.
For McCoy Harris, Newport News has always been home. “I spent hours at the Pearl Bailey Library,
took my first photography class there, and even wrote my first play at my church,” she recalls. “It’s
amazing to return and share these stories where my own journey began.”
More than just performances, these events are history lessons, celebrations of resilience, and calls to
action. “There’s no place like home,” she says. “I hope people leave feeling encouraged, empowered,
and proud of our incredible history.”
To learn more about African American Cultural Experiences in Newport News, click here.