JAMAICA’S HISTORIC BLACK
SPECTRUM THEATRE CELEBRATES
MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY
The Black Spectrum Theatre Company is a world-class performing arts center and nonprofit organization located at the Roy
Wilkins Family Center in Jamaica.
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
When Carl Clay, a visionary writer,
producer and filmmaker, founded the
Black Spectrum Theatre Company in
1970 in Jamaica, it became a platform
for African American artists to share
their stories in theater, film, music,
and videos examining issues of social
significance to the African Diaspora.
It’s one of the only black professional
theaters in New York City serving
nearly 20,000 audience members and
reaching thousands more through its
various programs. It is the recipient
of 10 AUDELCO Awards and three National
Black Theatre Festival Awards
for excellence in African American
theatre.
Now, the theater is preparing to
host its 50th Anniversary Gala on
April 25 to continue to nurture the
next generation of artists for the 21st
Century.
“There are so many theaters going
out of business, so many organizations
having to end their mission. To
be around for 50 years, and to be able
to look back and see some continuity,
from beginning to the present is an
awesome feeling,” Clay said. “This is
not a journey I’ve taken by myself in
any means. We have a wall in the theatre
called ‘The Wall of the Ancestors,’
and we honor those 30 people who gave
their life, blood, sweat and tears to create
the theatre.”
The Black Spectrum Theatre hosts
22 events during the season between
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE BLACK SPECTRUM THEATRE COMPANY
October and August every year, according
to Clay. At least seven or eight
of those are theater production among
special events ranging from comedy
shows, jazz concerts, speakers and
book signing parties.
From its early beginnings in a
church to basements and homes of
members and their parents, the Black
Spectrum Theatre became a traveling
theatrical troupe performing along the
eastern seaboard in colleges, churches,
festivals, and event venues.
In 1977, they moved into a converted
100-seat theater venue that was previously
an abandoned drug store at 205th
Street on Linden Boulevard. Eventually,
they renovated, converted, and
assisted in the architectural design of
an abandoned Navel Hospital Officers’
Club that hadn’t been used since World
War II.
Today, it is the Roy Wilkins Family
Center and the Black Spectrum Theatre
is located inside, where it continues
to be a cultural anchor and educational
resource for the community.
In 1986, the Black Spectrum moved
into its own 400-seat state-of-the-art
theatre, located in the recreation complex
in Roy Wilkins Park, just three
miles south of downtown Jamaica. The
theatre is equipped to double as a film
and video studio. It also houses the administration
offices, rehearsal space,
and a small cabaret theatre within the
complex as well.
“I think we’ve had a very good reputation
in the community for presenting
and giving opportunities to young people
and presenting productions that
have a cultural, as well as historical
and social meaning,” said Clay.
Over the years, the theatre has produced
and presented over 450 plays and
27 films that have not only impacted
southeast Queens, but also the city and
the nation, according to Clay.
Its first movie, “Babies Making Babies,”
was shown across the country
educating young people on the issues
of teen pregnancy, followed by another
film, “The Follower,” speaking on the
male role in teen pregnancy. The theatre
also showed one of the first theatrical
productions on the AIDS crisis in
New York City in the 1970s.
As a nonprofit organization with
an annual budget of $1.7 million, the
Black Spectrum receives funding from
individuals, government foundations,
corporations, and volunteer support
from its board, community members
and youth company parents.
In celebration of its milestone anniversary,
the theatre observed Black
History Month in February with a
series of special programs highlighting
African American achievements
in film, theater, literature and music.
Its Women’s History Month program
in March is featuring the lives of Mae
Jemison, Thurgood Marshall, and
Zora Neale Hurston.
Additionally, the theatre is reintroducing
its first-ever production,
Black Love, written and directed by
Clay. Black Love is a kaleidoscope of
stories exploring different types of
love from self-love to the relationships
Carl Clay, founder and executive
producer, of Black Spectrum
Theatre.
From the play of Thurgood
Marshall — one of the productions
in Black Spectrum Theatre’s
50th Anniversary Season.
between lovers, siblings, friends and
family.
“People think of the African American
community as young guys in
hoods, thugs and criminals, which are
misplaced images for our community,”
Clay said. “It’s important for them to
see how much love there is in our community.
Growing up, my parents never
taught me to hate anybody. Black Love
is an example of the love in our community,
and it’s a great joy to bring a
show like that after 50 years and the
people who were a part of it.”
As the major highlight of this milestone
season, the historic theatre will
also host its 50th Anniversary Gala
celebrating its rich legacy and honoring
legendary performers Louis Gossett
Jr., Leslie Uggams, Ben Vereen,
and Clay on Saturday, April 25, at 6
p.m. at the LaGuardia Plaza Hotel, located
at 104-04 Ditmars Blvd. in East
Elmhurst. Tickets for the gala are $150.
A ticket package including admission
to the Gala, an afterparty, and an overnight
stay at the hotel is $400.
Hosted by NY1 News reporter Dean
Meminger and WBLS/Steve Harvey
Morning Show Personality Anne
Tripp, the star-studded evening will
include an elegant seated dinner, feature
special presentations and celebrity
performances, appearances, and
will culminate with a fun-filled afterparty
led by a DJ.
Reach reporter Carlotta Mohamed
by e-mail at cmohamed@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718) 260–4526.
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