The Freedom Theatre was formerly known as the home of actor Edwin Forrest was born in Philadelphia in 1806. Even though it was Edwin Forrest's home at first, who knew he was going to expand it into a Theatre. First it became Philadelphia School of Design for Women. Secondly it became a Heritage House, lastly in 1968, Freedom Theatre became a community-based Black theatre for professional instruction in the theatrical arts. The Freedom Theatre was founded by John E. Allen, Jr in 1966, it's the oldest African-American Theatre in Pennsylvania. The Freedom Theatre is located at 1346 N. Broad St. John E. Allen,Jr died February 29, 1992 from lung cancer. After his death in 1992, Walter Dallas was nationally acclaimed to become the Freedom's Artistic Director. Walter Dallas was born in Atlanta in 1946, he was raised in a middle-class conservative Baptist Church in Atlanta of the '50s and '60s.
Edwin Forrest was good for being a great imitator. At the age of eleven, he convinced an audience at the South Street Theatre that he was a girl. At fourteen, he made his professional debut on a stage at the Walnut Street Theatre. Mr. Forrest spent his next couple of years honing his own craft on the road, playing a variety of different roles, including several in black face. What is black face?Walnut Street Theatre. Mr. Forrest spent his next couple of years honing his own craft on the road, playing a variety of different roles, including several in black face. What is black face?. A year later, Edwin Forrest was starring in the most prestigious theatre in New York called the Park; as Othello and was soon headlining at the lower-brow Bowery Theatre for an unheard price of $200 a night.
John E. Allen, Jr was the artistic director and founder of the Freedom Theatre, one of the nation's leading black theatres, he died on Tuesday, February 29, 1992 at a Hospital here in Philadelphia. He was only 58 years old and lived in Southwest Philadelphia. He founded the Freedom Theatre in a North Philadelphia storefront in 1966 with the support of the Black People's Unity Movement. Mr. Allen was also a performer, teacher, director and writer. He had worked in television and had directed productions for the New York Theatre Festival, the Walnut Street Theatre and the Philadelphia Company. He studied drama at the American Education Theatre in Washington. In 1973, he left his job as a supervisor with the Sun Oil Company, to run the theatre full-time.
The Freedom Theatre was known for presented about 275 plays and maybe more, and trained more than 10,000 youths in the Performing Arts Program. Among the Freedom's alumni are Erika Alexander, who plays cousin Pam on " The Cosby Show"; Samm-Art Williams, a writer and co-producer of " Fresh Prince of Bel Air," and Wanya Morris of the Grammy Award-winning rap group Boyz II Men. From my point of view, The Freedom Theatre is a great theatre, in the past it has played a lot of plays such as the Black Nativity, A Raisin in the Sun, Cooley High and the Trick The Devil. Even though the Freedom Theatre is old it's a great place to be I've had a couple dance recitals there. Freedom Theatre was struggling financially, it was 1.3 million dollars in debt.
Edwin Forrest was good for being a great imitator. At the age of eleven, he convinced an audience at the South Street Theatre that he was a girl. At fourteen, he made his professional debut on a stage at the Walnut Street Theatre. Mr. Forrest spent his next couple of years honing his own craft on the road, playing a variety of different roles, including several in black face. What is black face?Walnut Street Theatre. Mr. Forrest spent his next couple of years honing his own craft on the road, playing a variety of different roles, including several in black face. What is black face?. A year later, Edwin Forrest was starring in the most prestigious theatre in New York called the Park; as Othello and was soon headlining at the lower-brow Bowery Theatre for an unheard price of $200 a night.
John E. Allen, Jr was the artistic director and founder of the Freedom Theatre, one of the nation's leading black theatres, he died on Tuesday, February 29, 1992 at a Hospital here in Philadelphia. He was only 58 years old and lived in Southwest Philadelphia. He founded the Freedom Theatre in a North Philadelphia storefront in 1966 with the support of the Black People's Unity Movement. Mr. Allen was also a performer, teacher, director and writer. He had worked in television and had directed productions for the New York Theatre Festival, the Walnut Street Theatre and the Philadelphia Company. He studied drama at the American Education Theatre in Washington. In 1973, he left his job as a supervisor with the Sun Oil Company, to run the theatre full-time.
The Freedom Theatre was known for presented about 275 plays and maybe more, and trained more than 10,000 youths in the Performing Arts Program. Among the Freedom's alumni are Erika Alexander, who plays cousin Pam on " The Cosby Show"; Samm-Art Williams, a writer and co-producer of " Fresh Prince of Bel Air," and Wanya Morris of the Grammy Award-winning rap group Boyz II Men. From my point of view, The Freedom Theatre is a great theatre, in the past it has played a lot of plays such as the Black Nativity, A Raisin in the Sun, Cooley High and the Trick The Devil. Even though the Freedom Theatre is old it's a great place to be I've had a couple dance recitals there. Freedom Theatre was struggling financially, it was 1.3 million dollars in debt.
Basically, the Freedom Theatre had a very intelligent intellectual Artistic Director by the name of John E. Allen,Jr until his death in 1992, even though Walter Dallas is now the Artistic Director Mr. Allen is still living his life as the Artistic Director for the Freedom Theatre. The Theatre was in debt, but because of all of the sold out shows the Freedom Theatre building is standing taller than ever, and it will always be there for you to stop by and have a look inside.
If you want to see a show or play at the Freedom Theatre here's the website for you to do so http://www.freedomtheatre.org/PurchaseTickets/tabid./360/Default.aspx.
If you want to see a show or play at the Freedom Theatre here's the website for you to do so http://www.freedomtheatre.org/PurchaseTickets/tabid./360/Default.aspx.
Quotes about the Freedom Theatre:
" Freedom Theatre is now one of the leading regional theatres in the country"
By: American Theatre Magazine
" Freedom Theatre is vital to the fabric of Philadelphia"
By: Mayor John Street
"Walter Dallas has turned Philadelphia's Freedom Theatre into one of the finest regional companies"
By: Hartford Courant
" Freedom Theatre is now one of the leading regional theatres in the country"
By: American Theatre Magazine
" Freedom Theatre is vital to the fabric of Philadelphia"
By: Mayor John Street
"Walter Dallas has turned Philadelphia's Freedom Theatre into one of the finest regional companies"
By: Hartford Courant
By: Lanee G. Hill
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