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


Creative Team

Led by Mehr Mansuri—NEA panelist, grant recipient, and Edinburgh International Fringe Festival award-winning writer for Social Action—The Ballad of Henry Box Brown (A Musical Journey) has been a creative collaboration since 2009.

Mansuri serves as writer and lead composer, alongside co-composer, Eric Dozier, cultural activist, historian, gospel music director and recording artist; co-composer Frank Sanchez; AND composer and award winning film score composer, Jack Lenz (The Passion of the Christ).

In addition to its collaboration with three-time Tony Award winner Hinton Battle, who recorded the original songs and audiobook as teaching resources for young performers, the HBB Program has benefited from the active consultation and collaboration of the

Henry Box Brown Advisory Board since 2009:


Hinton Battle
Dr. Joy DeGruy

Nancy Ewing (aka Nan Lyn Nelson - award winning writer)
Sue St. Claire
William E. Davis

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.

PART 1: INVITE:
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)

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:

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

  • YOUR NUCLEUS: Assemble a CTC Local Advisory Board (your friends)

  • We collaborate to bring you a CTC Musical Theater Camp

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 HBB 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.