Children’s Theater Company (CTC) of New York in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts, New York University’s Office of Governance and Community Affairs, and the Bahá'í Office of Education and Schools are very pleased to announce the

Henry Box Brown Community Mobilization Grant

The HBB Community Mobilization Grant is a grassroots theater arts program designed to cultivate an understanding of the personal and cultural forces that shape society. The production seeks to explore the theater’s power to transform community, to develop empathy and compassion for the human condition, and allow us to learn from lives we’ve never lived.

The Grant is disbursed in 2 parts.

  • PART 1 is a complimentary performance of the critically acclaimed, Henry Box Brown: A Musical Journey.

  • PART 2 is a complimentary CTC Musical Theater Residency for children and youth K-12th grade.

PART 1: HENRY BOX BROWN: A MUSICAL JOURNEY

Inspired by the true story of an escaped 1850s enslaved man, is an amazing fusion of Gospel, R&B, blue grass, traditional and original negro spirituals. Henry Box Brown is a compelling and “unmissable” true tale of an 1850s Virginia slave who mails himself to freedom in a box. The emotional musical journey follows the story of a young man’s bid for freedom, transported across the Northeast by train and boat while nailed inside a box just 3ft by 2ft, after his children and pregnant wife were sold by the slave owner.

Awarded a BEST MUSICAL NOMINATION for two consecutive years 2019 and 2018 at the Edinburgh International Theatre Festival (the largest theater festival in the world) and performed for over 30,000 people from UK to the US, it’s a crowd-pleaser that shines a light on our capacity to transcend. The show features an amazing fusion of Gospel, R&B, blue grass, traditional and original negro spirituals, performed by a 16-person strong Broadway cast and critically acclaimed gospel singers from New York City. (Video Link: Singing Appearance on BBC1)

The production is shepherded by NYC Director and Broadway star Elmore James, NEA award-winning writer and composer Mehr Mansuri, cultural activist, historian, and composer Eric Dozier and co-composer, Frank Sanchez, along with rich score by Jack Lenz (Passion of Christ); with Music Direction provided by John Bronston (Broadway’s “Tina Turner”- Associate Musical Director). With such a creative team, it’s no wonder that it has received 5 star reviews in major international media from New York to London.

PART 2: CTC MUSICAL THEATER RESIDENCY

Ranked as one of the top 12 children’s theater companies across the U.S., CTC is committed to using live theater as a tool for moral reasoning. Through the Grant CTC will:

  • ADVANCE a creative approach to building a racial equity and justice lens in the classroom

  • EXAMINE and EXPLORE how inclusion impacts learning

  • APPLY our Assets Based Community Development (ABCD) model to build capacity and increase engagement

  • FOSTER collaboration and advance the cultural literacy of all students.

  • BUILD upon each performance with a student-driven pledge drive for social action.

All of this is done in collaboration with in-classroom faculty, community artists, and local civic and business leaders who serve to help advise and embed the CTC design and insure the delivery of key capacity-building strategies that can take on a life of their own as they evolve and take root in the heart of the community.

The Grant will also provide your circle of collaborators with interactive workshops and additional accompaniment led by CTC Director of Equity and Community Engagement and HBB co-composer Eric Dozier (Oneness Lab) and Artistic Director Mehr Mansuri, who’s work will deepen the knowledge of students on key points of the Henry Box Brown production. 

PROGRAM SUMMARY:

If accepted, you will be awarded:

  • FREE SCHOOL-DAY MATINEE PERFORMANCES: 1000+ Students (3-K) will be offered 1 or more performances of Henry Box Brown (depending on size of venue)

  • PRE-SHOW & POST-SHOW WORKSHOP: Will offer in-classroom and/or video interactive workshops with Co-Composer and Historian Eric Dozier.

  • STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Scholarships to join your local chapter of the Children’s Theatre Company

  • ADMINISTRATIVE AND CREATIVE SUPPORT: CTC Headquarters will offer extensive administrative support including but not limited to hiring local artist to staff your chapter, templates of relevant press documents, training of admin, and assistance with community engagement strategy and outreach.

  • ACCESS TO CTC’s AWARD WINNING BODY OF WORK: CTC’s Award winning catalogue of original musicals in addition to tailored multidisciplinary workshops (dance, music, writing and choral music) are centered within a values-based curriculum, rooted in ethical education and spiritual empowerment.

CLICK HERE FOR THE show’s electronic press kit and important link and reviews.