The Classical Theatre of Harlem Issues Urgent Call to Action After Its Public Funding is Revoked for Summer 2025 Production of Memnon, Putting Free Uptown Shakespeare in the Park at Risk.
NEW YORK, NY – May 3, 2025 – The Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH) announced today that it has lost critical federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts due to recent directives from the current administration.
The abrupt and unexpected cancellation of this grant (public funding) threatens to derail CTH’s highly anticipated summer production of MEMNON, a bold, vivid, contemporary retelling of the story of the legendary Ethiopian king of the Trojan War.
Angelenos had the priviledge of attending the West Coast debut of this production. After performing a virtual rendition in 2022 as part of the Getty Villa Museum’s Theater Lab program, MEMNON was presented in full production at the 18th Annual Outdoor Classical Villa Outdoor Series in September, 2024. This hero’s true journey is pieced together by Homeric and non-Homeric poems. It not only relates to the epic of the Trojan War. It also provides real data regarding mostly overlooked African contributions and insights into the cultural and racial diversity of ancient societies. Its unequivocal value.
Each summer, CTH’s free outdoor productions in Marcus Garvey Park reach more than 30,000 audience members. It also fuels over $615,000 in local economic activity. The unexpected loss of NEA public funding puts in jeopardy:
- Hundreds of jobs for actors, designers, technicians, stagehands, and local vendors
- Vital arts programming that is free and accessible to the Harlem community
- A 25-year legacy of award-winning classical theatre that reflects the richness of the African diaspora
“This isn’t just a line item. It’s a devastating blow to the working artists, small businesses, and Harlem families who count on this production every year,” said Ty Jones, Producing Artistic Director of The Classical Theatre of Harlem. “This is a fight for cultural equity, artistic freedom, and the soul of Uptown.”
To bridge the gap and preserve Memnon’s summer run, CTH is launching an emergency fundraising appeal and inviting the public to take part in its annual gala fundraiser:
Hold ‘Em in Harlem – Gala Fundraiser
- Thursday, May 22, 2025
- 6:00 – 11:00 PM
- Renaissance Harlem Hotel Ballroom
- Limited tickets available at www.cthnyc.org/gala
This spirited evening will feature:
- A high-stakes Texas Hold ’Em tournament
- Silent auction with luxury experiences and cultural offerings
- Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and celebrity guests
- Appearances by stars from Broadway, film, and television
All proceeds go directly toward underwriting the summer production of Memnon.
How to Support:
- Donate directly – Every $60 keeps a seat free. Every $500 supports a performer for a week of rehearsal.
- Attend the Gala – Celebrate CTH and support its mission in style.
- Spread the word – Help us protect free theatre in NYC.
A Year Ahead of Discovery and Celebration
The 2025 season marks an important milestone for The Classical Theatre of Harlem, as it continues to build on its mission of bringing new voices, stories, and perspectives to the forefront of American theatre. The organization is committed to providing a platform for artists of color and engaging with the Harlem community in meaningful ways.
East Coast Debut of MEMNON
CTH is proud to bring MEMNON, a powerful new work that explores the intersection of mythology, identity, and legacy, to New York audiences. After a successful run at The Getty Villa in Los Angeles, this groundbreaking production will make its New York Premiere with CTH in the summer of 2025. Written by celebrated playwright Will Power and directed by CTH’s own Carl Cofield, MEMNON brings to life the story of Ethiopia’s powerful king as he answers the call to defend Troy.
This Homeric episode, once a staple of the ancient Greek and Roman epic tradition, had been forgotten—until now. Weaving a narrative that is at once epic and intimate, MEMNON tells the story of a man caught between past and present, myth and reality. With its striking visuals and poignant performances, MEMNON promises to be a landmark production for the CTH stage. The performance will be held July 5th through 27th, 2025.
About The Classical Theatre Of Harlem
The Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH) is an American theatre company that tells stories through the lens of the African diaspora. CTH combines original adaptations, music, and dance to present great classics of world literature and contemporary works that will stand the test of time. Since its founding in 1999, CTH has presented works ranging from traditional classical playwrights (Sophocles, Euripides and William Shakespeare) to established 20th-century playwrights (August Wilson, Langston Hughes and Jean Genet) to new plays by emerging playwrights. CTH also proudly provides theater-based training and live theater experiences to Harlem youth and their families through its arts education program, Project Classics. The organization incorporates other theater-related programming including Future Classics, Playwrights’ Playground, and Revisited Classics to engage new audiences, invest in artistic development and give exposure to emerging creators.
The company serves over 30,000 live audience members per year. Its online offerings have drawn over 500,000 viewers. To learn more, visit https://www.cthnyc.org/.
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