Harman Patil (Editor)

Billie Holiday Theatre

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Phone
  
+1 718-636-0918

Address
  
1368 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11216, USA

Similar
  
BAM Harvey Theater, Kings Theatre, The Pavilion Theater, United Artists Court Str, Nitehawk Cinema

Profiles

Billie holiday theatre neighborhood beat bed stuy


The Billie Holiday Theatre is as 218 seat theatre located in the New York neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. It opened in May 1972, It was founded by the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation.

Contents

The Billie Holiday Theatre is a nonprofit organization located at 1368 Fulton Street, inside the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation's Restoration Plaza, and is part of a $6 million superblock in Bedford-Stuyvesant eventually housing an ice-skating rink, a supermarket, and the theatre.

Jackie alexander on the billie holiday theatre s 39th season


Theatre Background

Franklin A. Thomas, the first Black President of the Ford Foundation, used his position to revitalize his hometown neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant through the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation. The $6 million unit housed the 218-seat Billie Holiday Theatre. Thomas’ concept behind the theatre was “to expose the second largest black community in America to the arts while providing an outlet for local talent.” Marjorie Moon was appointed as the theatre’s executive director. Under Moon, “the theatre built a community audience by placing Bedford Stuyvesant citizens on the theatre’s board.”

In 2015 the theatre moved to Fort Greene for two years while the Bedford-Stuyvesant location is being renovated.

Notable Alumni

Well-known theatre actors who have performed at the Billie Holiday Theatre include Samm-Art Williams, Samuel L. Jackson, Debbie Allen, Tichina Arnold, Obba Babatunde, and Rondell Sheridan

Notable Works

Young Gifted and Broke (1977) by Weldon Irvine ran for a record seventy-seven sold out performances.

In 2010 the theatre presented the award-winning play, What Would Jesus Do?.

References

Billie Holiday Theatre Wikipedia