Harlem is… Theater
Organized by Community Works, NYC and The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
Originating in 2005, Community Works’ award-winning harlem is. . . Theater is a multimedia exhibition that tells the story of nearly 200 years of Black Theater in Harlem and New York City and celebrates both the early black theaters and those that continue building the legacy. Through exhibits, memorabilia, photos, film and original artwork, the exhibition tells of the theaters that bloomed and survived, the people who were driven to keep them vital, and the explosion of Black Theater productions that marked the 1960s and continues to this day. Community Works enlisted the help of students in ten schools who interviewed theater veterans, created written and dramatic work, and contributed research.
In 2014, Community Works decided to expand the exhibition with information on more theaters and giants in Black Theater, a rich selection of artifacts, and original artwork related to the history of Black Theater. This exhibition will tour citywide and possibly beyond – and, just as importantly—will explore this important history through panels discussion, symposia and performances. At Lincoln Center, at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, a further expanded exhibition explores the important collaboration in the 1980s between Harlem’s New Heritage Theatre Group and Lincoln Center to bring South African playwrights and voices to New York, exposing audiences both to new, brilliant stage experiences—among them Woza Albert and Sarafina--and to the realities of life under apartheid in South Africa. Archival materials and rare video footage will be featured. The message of the exhibit is strong: Black Theater has a crucial and continuing role for Harlem, New York City, and the world.
