After 30 years of consistently promoting the artistic legacy of Harlem, the African-American-led performing arts organization, Harlem Stage, returns with its 2017 season. The new season will kick off with an open house Sept. 16 and will share desirable Black programming, such as a screening of “Dreamstates,” which was written by Rwandan-born Anisia Uzeyman, and stars American poet and actor, Saul Williams, Oct. 6.
Harlem Stage will also be hosting “Declassified Memory Fragment,” a dance theater performance piece created by Olivier Tarpaga and Esther Baker, Oct. 6 as well. And the renowned and groundbreaking Black ballet star, Misty Copeland, will be teaching an intimate dance class that will flow into a following discussion with the legendary dancer, Carmen de Lavallade, Nov. 6.
The calender goes on with exciting highlights throughout the fall and winter.
Harlem Stage has also announced the hiring of the very accomplished contract performing arts administrator and producer who has worked with the Apollo Theater, HBO, the Hip-Hop Theater Festival and several Broadway plays to create an impressive resume of work. Monique Martin announce d her new position as director of programming.
Martin said of the historic organization, “Harlem Stage is a beacon of innovation dedicated to identifying, incubating and supporting visionary artists of color. This bold mission is vital, now more than ever, as communities across New York City, the nation and the world wrestle with questions of identity, equity and belonging. Fostering culturally diverse art and ideas anchored in the rich legacy of Harlem and reflective of the diaspora is the genesis of my programmatic vision. This season, Harlem Stage will continue to be a ‘sanctuary space’ for dialogue, bridge building and transcendent theater, music, dance and film. Artists from down the block, around the way and across the globe will present bespoke programs to ignite our imaginations, pose disrupting questions and ground us in our collective commitment to a world that honors everyone. It is my honor to join this brilliant institution whose history of amplifying and propelling voices, often on the margins, is extraordinary. We look forward to holding space with you and honoring our humanity.”
Patricia Cruz, executive director, said of Martin, “Monique Martin joins the Harlem Stage team at a unique time. We’ve just completed 10 years of extraordinary programming of our WaterWorks series through which we commissioned new work by 50 visionary artists of color. The impact has been remarkable. The passionate curatorial practice of Brad Learmonth, and later Simone Eccleston, inspired artists and audiences alike. But as time and life demanded, they moved on to new challenges.
“But what to do for our next act? Call it serendipity, call it fate or a blessing—the door opened and in walked Monique Martin who, after 10 years of fabulous programming at SummerStage, was also ready to move on, and walked through that open door to join Harlem Stage as our new director of programming. Monique joins the dedicated and expert team of the board and staff at Harlem Stage to guide us in expanded vision—all the while staying true to mission. She knows the artists with whom we’ve worked and supported; her network of artists runs wide and deep. While she is respectful of the legacy programs that she is inheriting, she is connecting us to new artists—artists from Africa, Europe and, of course, right here in Harlem. We are proud to welcome Monique, and in doing so, eager to welcome you to our next act in the life of Harlem Stage.”
We’re very excited to share the news of this thriving organization. Continue to support Black arts in Harlem. Tickets and reservations to Harlem Stage go on sale starting Aug.14 and can be purchased online at www.HarlemStage.org.