Not to start on too bossy a note, but do go out and catch all five plays and musical productions of the African American Theatre Festival being performed, mostly, at the Vineyard Playhouse and running this week through early September.

The festival began this past Wednesday with Root, a one-woman play written and performed by Vanessa German and directed by Heather Arnet. The play travels from 1980s Los Angeles to the Civil Rights marches of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to drug-saturated Juarez, Mexico to a battered and drenched New Orleans.

With potent poetry, music, rhythm and her own illuminating brand of passion, Ms. German expresses how human beings rise above disaster and suffering with art, words, dance and music. A talented crew of video and sound designers add to the drama and beauty of Ms. German’s message.

Root continues its sassy, uplifting run at the playhouse tonight, August 12, and tomorrow night, both shows beginning at 8 p.m.

Starting Monday, August 15, is Coming Up for Air: An AutoJazzography, originally created as a collaboration between playwright Jon Lipsky and jazz musician Stan Strickland. It was first performed at the playhouse in 1995. As Mr. Lipsky said while creating this show, “In most plays, the music supports and underscores the story, but in this play the story supports and underscores the music. Stan is an amazing performer to work with. He brings the danger and excitement of jazz to everything he says and does. It can be dramatic just watching him breathe.”

On August 24, the play 5 Mojo Secrets begins its run. The show was written by Vineyard summer resident Kathleen McGee-Andersen whose earlier play, Oak and Ivy, was produced at the Playhouse. The main question posed in 5 Mojo Secrets is one of nearly universal interest, well, to married couples at least: “Is there a secret to making a marriage work after kids, careers, and being together for what seems like forever?” Apparently, the answer lies in rediscovering a good old-fashioned mojo. It stars the Broadway star Obie award-winning Othello, John Douglas Thompson, and Suzzanne Douglas, a familiar face from film (How Stella Got Her Groove Back) and stage.

On August 25 Opera Noire of New York returns to the Island for a one-night performance at the Union Chapel in Oak Bluffs. Also in the spirit of one-night stands, the playhouse will screen the movie Inkwell on August 20.

Bringing the festival to a close is Two Old Black Guys Just Sitting Around Talking, which runs from August 31 to Sept. 3. The title of the play is a bit of a nudge and wink aimed at the play A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking by John Ford Noonan.

For more information about all of these shows and a list of times, dates and ticket prices visit vineyardplayhouse.org.