Formed in the fall of 2019, Theatre TCU Black Excellence has expanded from a club into a tight-knit community that reaches beyond the campus of TCU.

Theatre TCU Black Excellence, or TTBE, started as a “hangout,” as TCU alumnus and former president of the club D’Mariel Jones would put it.

“It started because we wanted to have a safe space, to be able to be together… as a hangout where we could read black plays or celebrate black theater because we weren’t learning about it in the curriculum,” Jones said.

The goal was bigger than just hanging out – it was to recruit more people of color to the Theatre TCU program.

Jones founded and co-created TCU Sings and Blackout, two events that are still held today. These cabaret-style events have grown in popularity every year.

TCU Sings events showcase both members of TTBE and highlight famous artists of color. Past concerts have included “TCU Sings: Whitney Houston and TCU Sings: Alicia Keys and John Legend.” Blackout celebrates people of color while incorporating themes of racial history through music, dance, spoken word and acting.

Theatre TCU Black Excellence extends beyond TCU’s borders. Alumni and TTBE members have gone on to perform in productions of “Hamilton,” on television and in traditional theatre in Japan. TTBE has also hosted exclusive masterclasses and Q&As with Black actors on Broadway, providing insight into the industry and helping members better prepare for their careers.

“It makes me proud to see students — a lot of whom I don’t know — seeing that they’re still producing works and have that community,” Jones said.

Current co-presidents and Theatre TCU majors Jalen Morgan and Jess Willis aim to continue expanding the organization. Both have extensive resumes within the performing arts, as actors at TCU and film and backup singers for national tours. This year, TTBE welcomed its largest incoming class of members.

Theatre TCU Black Excellence has played a significant role in recruitment to the Theatre TCU by being a beacon of diversity within the program.

According to TCU Institutional Research, Theatre TCU has become a more diverse department in the last 10 years. The percentage of students who identify as Black or African American has increased from less than 2% to 10%, while Hispanic and Latino students have grown from 7% to 15%. Meanwhile, the percentage of students who identify as White has decreased from 89% to 62%.

Theatre TCU has also grown in size in the past year, growing from 122 students in 2014 to 143 students today.

This year, TTBE will showcase “TCU Sings: Bruno and Brandy,” a cabaret featuring songs by Bruno Mars and Brandy. The show is scheduled for April 5 in the Hayes Theater at Ed Landreth Hall.