Atlanta Theater Celebrates Pioneering Aviator Bessie Coleman

Queen Bess play to run for 3 weeks in March 2026 at 7 Stages in Little Five Points

Mar. 14, 2026 at 12:00am

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7 Stages in Atlanta's Little Five Points neighborhood will be staging a production of "Queen Bess" by Amina S. McIntyre, celebrating the life and accomplishments of Bessie Coleman, the first Black woman and first Native American to earn an international pilot's license in the early 1900s. The play will run for three weeks in March 2026.

Why it matters

Bessie Coleman's story continues to inspire as an example of overcoming racial and gender discrimination through determination and resourcefulness. The production aims to bring wider recognition to this pioneering aviator and the challenges she faced in achieving her dreams.

The details

Bessie Coleman, a mixed-race Black and Native American woman, earned her pilot's license in France in the 1920s after being denied the opportunity to train in the United States due to Jim Crow laws and gender discrimination. The 70-minute play "Queen Bess" will be performed in English and French with English supertitles, appropriate for all ages.

  • The play will run from March 11-29, 2026.
  • Bessie Coleman earned her pilot's license in the 1920s.

The players

Bessie Coleman

The first Black woman and first Native American to earn an international pilot's license in the early 1900s, overcoming racial and gender discrimination to achieve her dreams of flight.

Amina S. McIntyre

The playwright who authored "Queen Bess", the play celebrating the life and accomplishments of Bessie Coleman.

7 Stages

The theater company in Atlanta's Little Five Points neighborhood that will be staging the production of "Queen Bess" in March 2026.

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The takeaway

Bessie Coleman's story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of perseverance and determination in the face of adversity, and the lasting impact that pioneering individuals can have in challenging societal norms and inspiring future generations.