While still a student at Hunter College, Linda Armstrong began her long career as a theater critic, walking into former Wilbert Tatum’s office at the Amsterdam News building in 1985 and getting an opportunity to write about what she wanted. For the last 40 years, she has established a name as one of the leading voices for Broadway, off-Broadway, and Black theater productions.
On October 27, Armstrong will be honored by the Lincoln Center Performing Arts Library at 40 Lincoln Center Plaza at 6 pm.
Armstrong has regularly written for the AmNews for 40 years, but is also the arts and entertainment editor for Harlem News and has written for several other publications, including TheatreWeek, Headliner Magazine, Our Time Press, and Playbill Online.
From a young age, Armstrong was drawn to theater and remembers her parents taking her to see “Morning’s at Seven.” Throughout her career, Armstrong was intentional about spotlighting Black plays and talent
“When you go to the theater, it’s an escape, and it’s something that can really inspire you. It can educate you. It can entertain you,” Armstrong said. “It leaves you with such an incredible feeling of being enriched and fulfilled in some type of way, you know, of being able to escape whatever your reality is and just … buying into what’s happening on that stage. There’s just something incredible about that. I just find theater, when it’s done well, can really be a gift from God.”
The event will feature a panel chosen by Armstrong discussing her impactful work, including some of her dear friends in the industry such as Woodie King Jr., founder of New Federal Theatre, one of the oldest Black-owned theater companies in New York; president of AUDELCO Jackie Jeffries; playwrights David Lamb and Keenan Scott II; actors Rome Neal and Brian Strokes Mitchell; and New York Times theatre critic Brittani Samuel.
Armstrong says she burst into tears of joy when she received the email notifying her that she would be honored.
“It makes me feel acknowledged. It makes me feel like what I’m doing really does mean something,” Armstrong said. Other awards she has collected over the years include the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award from AUDELCO. She is also a member of the Drama Desk and AUDELCO and Theatre World Awards organizations, and has both participated in and created panels for BroadwayCon.
Both her daughters, Linda and Jasmine, have a love for theater as well. Jasmine has continued in her mother’s path, reporting for the AmNews while being a student at Hunter College. She also majors in theater.
Armstrong continues to be inspired by quality theater. Most recently, she loved seeing Lear deBessonet’s “Ragtime” at Lincoln Center and “Freedom Riders: A Journey with No End in Sight” at Harlem Stages.
“Yes, I’ve been doing this for 40 years, and as I tell people, I’ll do it till I can’t move anymore. Because being a theater critic, supporting Black theater, supporting my people, I think, is one of my biggest purposes in life,” Armstrong said.
For more info and for tickets, visit eventbrite.com.