The DuSable Museum of African American History and Black Ensemble Theater are combining forces to for the Jackie Taylor Drama Series, a series of staged readings curated by its namesake, BET’s founding artistic director. The plays include Ervin Gardner’s National Anthem, an exploration of protests and professional athletes, (April 7, 8); Reginald Williams’ The Plea, which deals with the toll violence takes on Chicago neighborhoods, (April 14, 15) and L. Maceo Ferris’ In the Shadow of Justice, which delves the lives of two Black police detectives in Chicago (April 21, 22). DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Pl., $35; Black EnsembleTheater.com