The Classical Theatre of Harlem Receives $1 Million Grant from the Dale and Deborah Smith Foundation to Support Future Permanent Home.
The Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH) is proud to announce a transformational $1 million grant from the Dale and Deborah Smith Foundation. This major multiyear commitment—$200,000 per year over the next five years—is a restricted grant dedicated to supporting the development of a permanent home for the company.
“This $1 million investment is a game-changer for The Classical Theatre of Harlem.” said Ty Jones, Producing Artistic Director of CTH. “After more than tow decades of producing award-winning work throughout New York City, this generous gift brings us significantly closer to realizing a permanent home – one that reflects the excellence, resilience, and cultural significance of our community. We are profoundly grateful to the Dale and Deborah Smith Foundations for believing in our vision and helping us build a future rooted in Harlem.”
The Getty Villa Museum (Los Angeles) and the Classical Theatre of Harlem teamed up to present the world premiere of MEMNON for the 18th annual Villa Outdoor Classical Theater production on September 11, 2024.
The grant comes at a pivotal moment in CTH’s history, as the organization continues its campaign to establish a dedicated space for performance, education, and community gathering. And to solidify its role as a vital cultural institution within the Harlem community. With this foundational support, CTH can move forward in creating a permanent home that will serve as a vibrant hub for artists, students, and audiences alike.
A Cultural Cornerstone
Founded in 1999, The Classical Theatre of Harlem has long been a cultural cornerstone in Upper Manhattan. Known for its dynamic reinterpretations of classical works, commitment to social justice, and its free summer productions in Marcus Garvey Park, CTH serves thousands of New Yorkers each year.
Dale and Deborah Smith Foundation, is a private foundation established by Henry Dale Smit, Jr. and Deborah Klang Smith. It is an Illinois-based charitable organization which makes grants to charities across the United States. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are longtime supporters of arts organizations, public parks, and experiential education. This makes the Foundation’s interest in Classical Theatre of Harlem a natural fit.
Dale and Deborah Smith Foundation board member and co-founder, Deborah Klang Smith, said, “Our Foundations takes great interest in helping charitable organizations develop projects that are core to their operating mission. For this reason, Dale and Deborah Smith Foundation is proud to support the development of a permanent home for a cultural institution so deeply invested in the future of its community.”
To learn more about The Classical Theatre of Harlem and opportunities to support its new home, visit www.cthnyc.org.
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 be emerging playwrights. CTH also proudly provides theater-based training and live theater experiences to Harlem youth and their families. CTH does this 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 35,000 live audience members per year. Its online offerings have drawn over 500,000 viewers. To learn more, visit https://www.cthnyc.org/.
Photos Credit: Richard Termine: Classical Theatre of Harlem. 2025 MEMNON NYC Heroes.
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