Crossroads Theatre is an American residence theater company in New Brunswick, New Jersey , focused on the Black American experience and the African diaspora. It is in residence at the newly built New Brunswick Performing Arts Center , which opened in the city's Civic Square in 2019.
7-504: Crossroads Theater, as a Black theater company, is focused on celebrating the culture, artistry and voices of the African Diaspora. Founded in 1978, it was the winner of the 1999 Regional Theatre Tony Award . Ricardo Khan and Lee K. Richardson met at Rutgers University while studying for their Masters of Fine Art degree. After graduating in 1977, they founded the company in 1978. With help from George Street Playhouse and grant money from
14-605: Is a member company of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance . 40°29′36.9″N 74°26′38.11″W / 40.493583°N 74.4439194°W / 40.493583; -74.4439194 Regional Theatre Tony Award The Regional Theatre Tony Award is a special recognition Tony Award given annually to a regional theater company in the United States. The winner is recommended by a committee of drama critics . Initially presented in 1948 to Robert Porterfield of
21-504: The CETA program, the theater began performing in New Brunswick and became New Jersey's first professional Black repertory theatre. By 1985, it was thriving and had 1,300 subscribers. The company made an effort to appeal to a multiracial audience and while it started out focusing more on revivals, by 1985 Artistic Director Lee Richardson was prioritizing new plays, saying: "it's time to focus on
28-744: The Virginia Barter Theatre for their Contribution To Development Of Regional Theatre , the Regional Theatre awards were next presented starting in 1976. The award is "based on a recommendation by the American Theatre Critics Association ", and includes a grant of $ 25,000. As the American Theatre Critics Association has noted, no theater has won the award more than once, "testifying to the growing strength of professional theater nationwide." One of
35-417: The new." In 2000, it unexpectedly ceased operations temporarily, but with the return of Rick Khan and help in retiring its debt it was able to resume operations. Since its founding, Crossroads has produced more than 100 works, many of which were premiere productions by African and African-American artists. Crossroads' world premieres include The Colored Museum , which originated at Crossroads in 1986 and
42-587: The objects of the award is promoting what often amounts to the incubators of new productions. In June 2013, the Tony Awards Administration Committee stated that effective with the 2013-14 season, "New York-based theatre companies will be eligible to receive the Regional Theatre Award." The Broadway League and American Theatre Wing, in a joint statement, explained: "New York has some of the most prestigious and creative theatre groups in
49-1053: Was then seen by millions on national public television, when it was produced for WNET's "Great Performances", and Spunk , both by Tony Award-winner George C. Wolfe . The American Theatre Critics Association together with the American Theatre Wing and the League of American Theatres and Producers presented the 1999 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre to Crossroads in recognition of 20 years of artistic excellence. More than 50 new plays have premiered at Crossroads, including works by such artists as August Wilson , Anna Deavere Smith , George C. Wolfe , Ntozake Shange , Migdalia Cruz , Ruby Dee , Ossie Davis , Linda Nieves-Powell, former US Poet Laureate Rita Dove and South African writer/composer Mbongeni Ngema. Since its founding, Crossroads has produced more than 100 works, including many premiere productions by African and African-American artists. Crossroads' productions include: Crossroads
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