Title
Honoring and Recognizing Freedom Theatre on the Occasion of its 50th Anniversary.
Body
WHEREAS, Freedom Theatre was founded in 1966 by John E. Allen, Jr. in order to introduce black youth to the theater, both as audience members and as students of the theater arts. It is now recognized as the oldest African American theatre in Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, Freedom Theatre's 299-seat John E. Allen, Jr. Theatre is housed by the Edwin Forrest Mansion on North Broad Street, an anchor on the Avenue of the Arts. The mansion's namesake was America's first internationally-recognized stage actor, and today the mansion is a National Historic Landmark; and
WHEREAS, Freedom Theatre's Performing Arts Training Program was founded by Robert E. Leslie in 1971. This program offered local youth the opportunity to learn the theater arts from distinguished teachers and role models, and it continues today; and
WHEREAS, The training program has blossomed to reach as many as 800 students annually. It has been highly acclaimed, as Denzel Washington once called it a "unique and exciting" program. Graduates include Gary Dourdan of television's CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Wanya Morris of the Grammy-winning, multi-platinum singing group Boyz II Men; and
WHEREAS, Nationally acclaimed director Walter Dallas was named Freedom's Artistic Director after the death of John E. Allen, Jr. in 1992 and continued to serve until 2008. In 1993 Dallas created Freedom Rep, the professional performing company of Freedom Theatre. This led to Freedom Theatre's rise to a nationally-recognized regional theater. It was the second African American theater to join the renowned League of Resident Theatres; and
WHEREAS, Alumni of Freedom Theatre have gone on to star at the highest levels of theater and the performing arts. Leslie Odom, Jr., a star of the Grammy Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical Hamilton, says, "there is a focus on excellence, and personal responsibili...
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