Overview
The Freedom Theatre was founded in 1966 by John E. Allen Jr. from a North Philadelphia Storefront. Through partnership with Robert E. Leslie Sr. Allen was able to move productions to the Edwin Forrest mansion, named after the late owner. Allen studied drama at Hedgerow Theater in Pennsylvania and the American Education Theater in Washington. He had a large passion for theater and in the early stages of its development, would fund the theater with any spare change that he had from his day job as supervisor of the Sun Oil Company. However, in 1973, Allen decided to quit his job and fully dedicate himself to the success of the theater. Following his transition, the theater’s budget rose to $200,000 per year (gained through tuition, box office profits, and private grants), a big increase from depending on Allen’s spare change. In its beginning stages, the Freedom Theatre has been known to partner with Temple University, located nearby, to supply lighting, set designers, sound technicians, and provide wages to theater staff and teachers. Additionally, the theater has also been granted use of Temple’s facilities for rehearsals and classes on occasion.
Additionally, the theater’s impact reaches beyond entertainment, it is also an education institution where community members of all ages can take classes on singing, various types of dance, monologue, and script study. The theater is also known to write its own plays, promoting local writers and producing plays “for and about their audience.” Allen wanted the theater to be a space for all community members, who were majority black, to have the opportunity to succeed in the arts and to provide a safe space where community members could explore their culture and learn more about their roots away from the dangers of the streets. Many of the theater’s members have seen great success on Broadway and television. Some notable performers include: Leslie Odom (Hamilton), Erika Alexander (The Cosby Show & Living Single), Samm-Art Williams (TV Producer), and Wanya Morris (Boyz II Men). Recently, through The theater, Walter Dallas, a partner of Allen, was given the opportunity to work with playwrights and artists like James Baldwin, Denzel Washington, and a few others. Though the theater has experienced a lot of success with its alumni over the years and its capabilities as a performing arts institution, it has also received a lot of criticism. The theater has a stigmatized history of unprofessionalism and prejudice from outside organizations due to their performers not being protected under Actor’s Equity, an organization that works as a union for actors. Additionally, another reason could be that while the theater has a lot of notable alumni, their successes aren’t attributed to the theater itself, but to the more popular organizations in NY and other major cities that they join after their time at the New Freedom Theater has come to an end. This may contribute to the theater being forgotten in the media and not getting as much recognition as it should.
Historical Documents
Mapping the Area
The mapping of the distribution of Black communities in the neighborhood surrounding Freedom Theatre demonstrates the contrast in communities of color between Center City and Yorktown and other neighborhoods surrounding the city.
While mapping the decrease in high school education in the area suggests the increasing socioeconomic disadvantage that may have contributed to the theatre building’s decline. In contrast, the mapped increase in college education demonstrates the growing popularity of college and specifically the impending influence of Temple University in the area in recent decades.
Ethnography and Field Notes
The neighborhood that the Freedom Theatre is in encapsulates a unique blend of modernity and antiquity. To its north is a church, which stands as a testament to bygone eras; to its south, a contemporary edifice graces the vicinity. On the eastern front lie Temple University’s state-of-the-art sports facilities. The western landscape is dominated by structures that mirror the temporal aesthetics of Freedom Theatre, evoking a shared architectural heritage.
Some demographic information: Freedom Theatre is nestled at a diverse intersection of both predominantly Black and white neighborhoods and thus has generally served communities of color throughout history. Its neighborhood serves as a gateway to many North Philly neighborhoods, from the very nearby Yorktown and Stanton to Hartranft and the predominantly Hispanic Kensington.
In 2018 Freedom Theatre experienced flooding due to the extreme winter weather that caused pipes to burst. This resulted in destruction of ceilings, walls, floors, and other facilities. Though it was largely refurbished, there are still ongoing repair needs, and the space is currently closed to the public. Freedom Theatre also struggles financially. Temple University’s takeover and gentrification of the surrounding area have displaced a significant portion of the original black population, making it even harder for the theater to survive. However, theater arts education programs remain active in other site, as the community rallies together to maintain the theatre’s impact and inspiration on the artistic life of the community.
The Theater Today!
