Free CTH summer productions such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream might be no longer possible after NEA withdraws funding (photo © 2024 by Richard Termine)
HOLD ’EM IN HARLEM
Renaissance New York Harlem Hotel Ballroom
233 West 125th St.
Thursday, May 22, $100-$1500, 6:00 – 11:00
Memnon: Marcus Garvey Park, July 5–27, free (tentative)
www.cthnyc.org
On May 22, the Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH) will have its annual fundraising gala, at the Renaissance New York Harlem Hotel. Tickets for the “Hold ’Em in Harlem” benefit, comprising gambling games, a silent auction, an open bar, passed hors d’oeuvres, celebrity guests, and prizes, start at $100 for nonplayers and go up to $150 per poker player, $1,500 for a full player table, and $50,00 for exclusive sponsorship. The 2025 special guests are Malik Yoba, Grantham Coleman, Laila Robins, Russell Hornsby, Felix Solis, and Kevin “Dot Com” Brown. The money raised helps support CTH’s mission “to maintain a professional theatre company dedicated to returning the classics to the stages of Harlem; to create employment and educational outreach opportunities in the theatre arts; to create and nurture a new, young, and culturally diverse audience for the classics; and to heighten the awareness of theatre and of great art in Harlem.”
One of the highlights of each season is Uptown Shakespeare in the Park, free summer shows put on in Marcus Garvey Park; past years have featured Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, and Macbeth in addition to Betty Shamieh’s Malvolio, Will Power’s Seize the King, and A Christmas Carol in Harlem.
However, this year’s summer production, Power’s Memnon, about an Ethiopian king who travels to Troy to fight for the Trojans, is in danger of being canceled because the National Endowment for the Arts has just started cutting arts funding to New York institutions, including CTH.
The letter from the NEA blatantly states, “Pursuant to the Offer letter, the tentative funding recommendation for the following application is Withdrawn by the Agency and the National Endowment for the Arts will no longer offer award funding for the project. The NEA is updating its grantmaking policy priorities to focus funding on projects that reflect the nation’s rich artistic heritage and creativity as prioritized by the President. Consequently, we are terminating awards that fall outside these new priorities. The NEA will now prioritize projects that elevate the Nation’s HBCUs and Hispanic Serving Institutions, celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence, foster AI competency, empower houses of worship to serve communities, assist with disaster recovery, foster skilled trade jobs, make America healthy again, support the military and veterans, support Tribal communities, make the District of Columbia safe and beautiful, and support the economic development of Asian American communities. Funding is being allocated in a new direction in furtherance of the Administration’s agenda. Your project, as noted below, unfortunately does not align with these priorities.”
CTH’s free performances result in tens of thousands of audience members, hundreds of jobs, and an economic impact of more than $600,000 on Harlem. CTH also hosts indoor theater, a literary series at Harlem Stage, acting classes for kids, the Behind the Curtain exclusive interview and Icons series, and career development resources. Apparently, those are no longer priorities for the current administration.
“This isn’t just a line item — it’s a devastating blow to the working artists, small businesses, and Harlem families who count on this production every year,” CtH producing artistic director Ty Jones said in a statement. “This is a fight for cultural equity, artistic freedom, and the soul of Uptown.”
In order for the show to go on — Memnon is scheduled to run July 5–27 — donations are needed now. If you can give, please do so; every $60 equals a free seat at the show, while $500 supports a week of rehearsals for one performer.
[Mark Rifkin is a Brooklyn-born, Manhattan-based writer and editor; you can follow him on Substack here.]