Celebrating 100 Years of the Harlem Renaissance with a Special Event

The Classical Theatre of Harlem Celebrates 100 Years of the Harlem Renaissance and 25 Years of CTH with ‘Renaissance Reborn: Reimagining the Past, Igniting the Future’

The Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH), in partnership with the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, has announced a special event, “Renaissance Reborn: Reimagining the Past, Igniting the Future” commemorating 100 years of the Harlem Renaissance and 25 years of CTH. The event will take place on March 21st at 7 PM at the historic Cathedral of St. John the Divine (1047 Amsterdam Ave at 112th Street, New York, NY 10025).

Featuring luminaries in history, Black arts, and Harlem culture, CTH is hosting a public panel discussion on the Harlem Renaissance, commemorating the centennial of a dinner hosted by Charles S. Johnson in 1924. This dinner marked the first time Harlem’s centrality to America’s extraordinary Black literary output of the day was recognized. As a company, CTH is working to reorient New York City’s cultural axis further north, with a Renaissance Reborn by commissioning original works of theatre by today’s burgeoning talents, offering free access to its work for everyone, and making deep investments in community care that now encompasses work with dozens of health NGOs, local microbusiness entrepreneurs, and its peer arts and culture groups.

Renaissance Reborn will feature live performances and a powerhouse panel discussing the legacy and future of the Harlem Renaissance with historians, local artists, and culinary leaders. Confirmed panelists include: Carl Cofield, Melba’s Melba Wilson, Peter Francis James, David Levering Lewis, and Mark Harding. The panel will be moderated by Shondaland staff writer, Mia Brabham Nolan. WNYC is a media partner of the event. This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs In partnership with the City Council. CTH will be presented with a proclamation from New York Mayor Eric Adams marking the significance of the event.

The evening will also feature musical performances and excerpts from CTH’s upcoming production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, set in the heart of the Harlem Renaissance. This unique opportunity celebrates the rich cultural history of Harlem and the impact of the Harlem Renaissance on our society today.

Free tickets are available now and can be reserved here.

The Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH) is an American theatre company that tells stories through the lens of the African diaspora. CTH combines original adaptations, music, and dance to present great classics of world literature and contemporary works that will stand the test of time. Since its founding in 1999, CTH has presented works ranging from traditional classical playwrights (Anton Chekhov, Euripides and William Shakespeare) to established 20th-century playwrights (August Wilson, Langston Hughes and Jean Genet) to new plays by emerging playwrights. CTH also proudly provides theater-based training and live theater experiences to Harlem youth and their families through its arts education program, Project Classics. The organization incorporates other theater-related programming including Future Classics, Playwrights’ Playground, and Revisited Classics to engage new audiences, invest in artistic development and give exposure to emerging creators.

CTH is dedicating their entire 2024 season to longtime trustee Andre Braugher, which will include Uptown Shakespeare in the Park production this summer season. The season will also continue to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance as well as CTH’s own 25th anniversary season. This anniversary season will open with a free Harlem Renaissance-themed production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Carl Cofield in Marcus Garvey Park in July, and the world premiere of Memnon by Will Power and directed by Carl Cofield at the Getty Villa in California in September.