Jonathan McCrory Named New Director of Theatre Arts Program at National Black Theatre

Celebrating 45 Years as New York City's longest continually running black theatre, Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's National Black Theatre Inc. [NBT] is proud to announce our appointment of Jonathan McCrory as the Director of Theatre Arts Program. McCrory follows in the footsteps of the late Theatre Arts Director, Tunde Samuels, who held the position for 25 years. McCrory with take the helm of the Theatre Arts Program as the Director in November when the launch National Black Theatre's 45h Season with the New York Premiere of "Last Saint On Sugar Hill" by Keith Josef Adkins directed by Seret Scott.

"I have had the honor of working with Mr. McCrory for the past year on several National Black Theatre productions and projects. His commitment to excellence and the preservation of black theatre is awe-inspiring. He shares my vision of moving our founder, Dr. Teer's legacy forward which made him the perfect candidate for the position" - Sade Lythcott, National Black Theatre, Inc. CEO

"I am thrilled to have someone as dedicated and talented as Mr. McCrory to head the Theatre Arts Program at the National Black Theatre. I perceive Mr. McCrory as a new voice and an effective force in the Black Theatre community. I am proud that National Black Theatre has the honor of cultivating his development." - Shirley Faison, National Black Theatre, Inc. Executive Director

Harlem-based, Jonathan McCrory has worked professionally for the past seven years as a director, producer, scholar and actor throughout the East Coast [New York, Washington, DC, Baltimore, and Winston-Salem, NC]. A Washington, DC native, he attended Duke Ellington School of the Arts, where he trained in musical theater and theater production. He earned a BFA degree in Acting and Africana Studies from New York University TISCH School of the Arts. This summer he received the Emerging Producer Award from the National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, NC. In 2010, he became a Hemispheric Institute alumnus after going through their Emerge-NYC program. Jonathan is proud to say that in 2012 he officially became a published journalist through Howlround.com and within that same year he began serving as a trustee. In 2013 he curated a week on The State of Black Theatre on Howlround.com that is now published in print by the Black Theatre Network.

As a director, Jonathan's credits include: Blacken the Bubble, Enter Your Sleep, Hope Speaks, Wake, Last Laugh, With Out Trace and Asking For More. Hope Speaks, one of his most notable touring works, is a devised piece he created through The Movement Theatre Company. Hope Speaks chronicles the first hand testimonies surrounding the 2008 election of President Barack Obama. Outside of his own directorial work, he has been able to work as an assistant director under both established and emerging directors such as Talvin Wilks: Anne & Emmet, One Quarter, and Banana Beer Bath; Charles Randolph-Wright: Motown the Musical[Developmental Workshops]; and Jesca Prudencio: Black Boy & The War.

During his senior year at NYU, he was one of the founding members of The Movement Theatre Company [TMTC]. Currently in their SIXTH Season, Jonathan remains one of the Producing Artistic Leaders. Through his work with TMTC, he has helped produce all of the company's events and productions. Most notable were TMTC's landmark production of the North-American Premiere of Bintou, TMTC Harlem Nights, "Honoring Excellence in Black Theatre", Go Green Series, and Testament Project with Talvin Wilks. Jonathan is also co-founder in a producer collective called Harlem 9 [H9]. Through this organization, Jonathan helped to develop and produce the sold-out festival 48 Hours in Harlem. He also served on the selection committee and helped to curate the 2011 River to Rivers Festival at Ensemble Studio Theatre under the direction of Elizabeth Van Dyke. He also curated the lobby of National Black Theatre for their production of Lyrics from Lockdown, with an exhibit highlighting Juvenile Justice in America supported by the Correctional Association of New York and Center for Nuleadership.

The National Black Theatre Inc. (NBT) is a not-for-profit arts organization founded in 1968 by the late Dr. Barbara Ann Teer. Dr. Teer explored and discovered how the power of Black theatre could be used as an instrument to uplift, strengthen, and heal the black community on a national level. As the first revenue generating Black Arts complex in America, National Black Theatre is the longest operating Black Theatre Company in New York City. NBT is one of the few black theatres to own their space. Through its programs, the National Black Theatre attracts 90,000 audience members annually. Within our 44 years of operation in the Harlem community, we have produced over 300 original works that have toured the USA, Caribbean, Central America, Africa, and Asia. Currently under the leadership of Sade Lythcott, Chief Executive Officer, the National Black Theatre accomplishes its mission through three programs: Theatre Arts Program, Communication Arts Program and Entrepreneurial Arts Program.