Be A Part of What's Happening in Black Theatre Today.

National Black Theatre Festival Events Opening Night Gala Monday, July 30, 2001 - Saturday, August 4, 2001Multiple Venues Five days of more than 90 performances of 20 productions of Black classics and new works performed by theatre professionals from around the world. Write to NBTF- 610 Coliseum Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27106 to get on the mail list, include your Email address. Also ask for information for becoming a Guild member, Celebrity Reception Adams Mark Hotel Party with the stars every night. Gain entry with a ticket stub from one production presented that evening.Multiple Venues Young people of all ages from around the country attend youth performances and interact with celebrities and theatre professionals. Celebrities inspire, guide, and assure participants that they can achieve anything to which they aspire. Youth organizations! Make your reservations now - bring your group to meet the stars Adams Mark Hotel - Towers East and West $85 per night - single, double and triple occupancy. For reservations call -(336) 725-3500. For additional hotel information send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Attn: NBTF Hotels, 610 Coliseum Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27106. We will forward a list of Winston-Salem hotels.Travel Arrangements Rogers Travel, Inc. - The official travel agent for the National Black Theatre Festival. Ca11(800) 825-1775 or (215) 748-1775 .North Carolina Black Repertory Company 610 Coliseum Drive Winston-Salem, NC 27106 Be A Part of What's Happening in Black Theatre Today!

Release Date: October 19, 2000 Contact: Chris McElroen (212) 926-4100 ext. 307

The Classical Theatre of Harlem, currently producing A New Stage Adaptation of Richard Wright's Classic Novel Native Son, has just received eight AUDELCO Nominations for excellence in black theatre for its smash hit production of William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. The eight nominations ties August Wilson's Jitney for most nominations for a dramatic production.

Romeo & Juliet nominations include:
Dramatic Production of the Year: Romeo & Juliet
Choreography: Trisha Jeffrey     
Sound Design: Albert Elkerson
Costume Design: Kimberly Glennon 
Best Supporting Actor: Arthur French 
Best Supporting Actress: Monifa Brown 
Best Actress: Amina Robinson
Best Director: Alfred Preisser

Performed outdoors in the Harlem School of the Arts Courtyard Theatre, CTH set this timeless love story in the "hip-hop nation" and presented a modern dress version of Romeo & Juliet that encompassed the music, the dance, the fashion, and all the elements of the "hip-hop" culture. Through all these elements, and a cast of Latino Montagues and African American Capulets, Romeo & Juliet voiced the concerns of the ethnically and culturally diverse young adults of the Harlem community.

The Classical Theatre of Harlem, a professional theatre company in residence at The Harlem School of the Arts (HSA), was co-founded in February 1999 by Alfred Preisser and Christopher McElroen. CTH, a not-for-profit organization, has as its Mission:

...To establish a professional theatre company dedicated to returning the "Classics" to the stages of Harlem, to create employment and educational outreach opportunities in the theatre arts for the Harlem Community and for New York City's youth, to create and nurture a new, young, and culturally diverse audience for the "Classics", and to heighten the awareness of theatre and of great art in Harlem, thus re-establishing Harlem as a Theatrical Mecca.

In July 1999, CTH presented its inaugural production Macbeth, the first professional production of Macbeth in Harlem since the historic 1936 production directed by Orson Wells. Macbeth was a tremendous success both artistically and educationally as it created over fifty-five jobs in the theatre arts for Harlem and featured AUDELCO winner Adam Wade.

Macbeth was the start of The Classical Theatre of Harlem Shakespeare Festival, an annual event, in which, CTH will stage one, or more, of Shakespeare's classics outdoors in Harlem at The Harlem School of the Arts Courtyard Theatre.

Our inaugural season continued in October and November 1999 with Lysistrata, marking the first time Aristophanes' 2,500-year-old Greek classic was produced in Harlem in over fifty years. The show was a true success that utilized traditional African Fertility Dances and South African Boot Dances to tell the story of women uniting to put an end to the senseless warfare of men.

This past summer, CTH opened its 2000/2001 Season with the eight-time AUDELCO Nominated Second Annual Classical Theatre of Harlem Shakespeare Festival Production of Romeo and Juliet.

Our 2000/2001 Season continues with our current production of The World Premier of a New Stage Adaptation of Richard Wright's undisputed classic novel Native Son.

Currently playing to sold out audiences, Native Son has been called: 
"Ingenious" "The most powerful and historic theatre in Harlem in ages."
"A piece of theatre that will not be forgotten any time soon."
Native Son runs now through October 29th. 

The remainder of our 2000/2001 Season includes Douglas Turner Ward's Day of Absence featuring AUDELCO winner and current nominee for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor Arthur French. Day of Absence runs February 2nd - 25th. Our Season closes out with Eugene Ionesco's Theatre of the Absurd Classic Rhinoceros April 21st - May 6th.

In the future, The Classical Theatre of Harlem plans to return the classics to the stages of Harlem with such productions as: Euripides Media, LeRoi Jones' Dutchman, and a stage version of Piri Thomas's Down These Mean Streets. Coming in July 2001, The Third Annual Classical Theatre of Harlem Shakespeare Festival will stage Taming of the Shrew and King Lear.