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Non-profit

National Black Theatre (NBT)

Website:

www.nationalblacktheatre.org
Location:

Harlem, NY
Tax ID:

13-2632596
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2022):

Revenue: $5,134,746
Expenses: $2,652,993
Assets: $5,847,848
Type:

Community Theater
Formation:

1968
CEO:

Sade Lythcott
Budget (2022):

Revenue: $3,910,139
Expenses: $4,002,688
Net Assets: $5,019,449 1

References

  1. National Black Theatre. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Part I). 2022.

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The National Black Theatre (NBT) is a Black-owned and operated theatre in Harlem, New York City that focuses on combining theatre with left-of-center social concepts such as climate, immigration, criminal justice, discrimination, and oppression. It was founded by Barbara Ann Teer, who was known as a champion of the Black Arts Movement that “expressed empowerment, pride, and liberation.” 1 2 3

NBT is funded by several large left-of-center philanthropies including the Ford Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Art for Justice Fund of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Tides Center, and the San Francisco Foundation. 4 5

Background

The National Black Theatre (NBT) was founded in 1968 during the civil rights movement by actress, director, and producer Barbara Ann Teer. 6 7 Teer rented space in Harlem to serve as the home of the NBT; In 1983, that building was destroyed in a fire. Teer’s daughter, Sade Lythcott, bought the damaged building and revitalized it, using real estate proceeds to help pay for the theater. In 2021, NBT began a $185 million project to rebuild the site into a 21-story space to house the theater as well as retail, apartments, and housing for community members. It is scheduled to be completed in 2026. 8 9

The NBT has become the first revenue-generating Black art complex and the longest-running Black theater in New York City, still producing theater works that “inform national consciousness around social justice issues that impact our communities.” 10

The NBT focuses on “Black liberation, art, and placemaking as a change agent to combat systemic oppression.” 11 It has over 90,000 visitors each year and has produced over 300 original works. 12

Programs

National Black Theatre’s 2024-2025 season includes theater productions that address left-of-center social issues such as climate, immigration, Black femme liberation, and discrimination. 13 14

In addition to its productions, NBT uses the theater to “educate, enrich, entertain, empower, and inform the national conscience around current social issues impacting our communities.” 15 It creates lobby exhibits that reflect whatever “social justice, social impact” concept is reflected in the production, such as criminal justice or “cultural erasure,” and hosts post-play discussions. 16

NBT’s Alternative Learning and Social Impact Department hosts multi-day events that include workshops, exhibitions, performances, classes, and discussions. The 2024 event, titled “The Gathering: A Place for Narrative Change,” focuses on Black culture in America and the “need for narrative change.” It includes discussions on “carving the path from activism to liberation.” 17 18

NBT@Home is an online series of conversations with authors and activists covering topics such as voting in partnership with former First Lady Michelle Obama’s When We All Vote, and performance activism. 19 20

NBT incubates Black theater companies and artists and has invested over $10 million in them since its inception. 21 Its Soul Series L.A.B. includes residencies for playwrights, directors, and producers. 22

Funding

NBT reported a 2022 revenue of $3,910,139 and expenses of $4,002,688. 23

Donors include the Ford Foundation, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the Howard Gilman Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the New York State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Art for Justice Fund, which is a project of the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Hyde and Watson Foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the Tides Center, and the San Francisco Foundation. 24 25

Leadership

Sade Lythcott, daughter of founder Barbara Ann Teer, took over as chief executive officer of the National Black Theater when her mother passed away in 2008. 26 Lythcott grew up in Harlem and graduated from New York University with a degree in art history. She is the chair of the Coalition of Theaters of Color, on the board of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and is a founding member of New York City’s Theater and Live Performance Industry Council. She was on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s (D) Task Force in 2021 to reopen live performances after COVID-19 and on then-New York City Mayor-elect Eric Adams’ (D) COVID-19 transition committee. 27 28

Jonathan McCrory joined NBT in 2013 as its executive artistic director. 29 He graduated from New York University with a degree in acting and Africana studies. Before joining NBT, he founded The Movement Theatre Company, an “artistic social movement” theater, 30 and producer collective Harlem 9. He sits on the National Advisory Committee for New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Theatre Project funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and on the original cohort of artist-activist group ArtEquity. 31 32

Van Jones is a former NBT board member. 33 Jones is a CNN commentator, left-of-center political activist, and former Obama administration official. He supports the far-left Black Lives Matter movement and reparations and redistribution of wealth for African Americans in the United States. 34 35 36 37

References

  1. “24/25 Theatrical Season.” National Black Theatre. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://www.nationalblacktheatre.org/2024-2025
  2. “Sade Lythcott.” National Endowment for the Arts. January 31, 2022. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://www.arts.gov/stories/podcast/sade-lythcott#transcript
  3. “Our Story.” National Black Theatre. Accessed August 16, 2024. https://www.nationalblacktheatre.org/our-story
  4. “Funders.” National Black Theatre. Accessed August 15, 2024. https://www.nationalblacktheatre.org/funders
  5. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Results for 13-2632596. Accessed August 15, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/full_text_search?sort=best&form%5B%5D=IRS990ScheduleI&year%5B%5D=2022&year%5B%5D=2023&q=13-2632596&submit=Apply
  6. “Our Story.” National Black Theatre. Accessed August 16, 2024. https://www.nationalblacktheatre.org/our-story
  7. “Black Arts Movement.” The Art Story. Accessed August 16, 2024. https://www.theartstory.org/movement/black-arts-movement/
  8. Julia Jacobs. “National Black Theater Plans Next Act in a New Harlem High-Rise. The New York Times. June 4, 2021. Updated September 22, 2021. Accessed August 16, 2024. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/04/theater/national-black-theater-dasha-zhukova.html
  9. Nicole Rosenthal. “Harlem’s National Black Theatre Nears Completion, Sets 2026 Opening.” Patch. October 6, 2023. Updated October 11, 2023. Accessed August 16, 2024. https://patch.com/new-york/harlem/harlem-s-new-national-black-theatre-nears-completion
  10. “Our Story.” National Black Theatre. Accessed August 16, 2024. https://www.nationalblacktheatre.org/our-story
  11. “Mission.” National Black Theatre – About. Accessed August 16, 2024. https://www.nationalblacktheatre.org/mission
  12. “National Black Theatre.” The Kennedy Center. Accessed August 16, 2024. https://www.kennedy-center.org/artists/n/na-nn/national-black-theatre/
  13. Norman Vanamee. “The Harlem-based company has major projects on and off Broadway and a big performance at the Kennedy Center.” Town & Country. October 2, 2023. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a45415264/national-black-theater-season-2023-24/
  14. “24/25 Theatrical Season.” National Black Theatre. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://www.nationalblacktheatre.org/2024-2025
  15.  “Mission.” National Black Theatre – About. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://www.nationalblacktheatre.org/mission
  16. “Sade Lythcott.” National Endowment for the Arts. January 31, 2022. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://www.arts.gov/stories/podcast/sade-lythcott#transcript
  17. “24/25 Theatrical Season.” National Black Theatre. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://www.nationalblacktheatre.org/2024-2025
  18. “The Gathering: A Place For Narrative Change.” The Kennedy Center – What’s On. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/festivals-series/conflux/the-gathering-national-black-theatre/
  19. “The Download.” National Black Theatre – Programs. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://www.nationalblacktheatre.org/the-download
  20. “Watch and Listen.” National Black Theatre – Programs. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://www.nationalblacktheatre.org/watch-listen
  21. “Our Story.” National Black Theatre. Accessed August 16, 2024. https://www.nationalblacktheatre.org/our-story
  22. “Soul Series L.A.B.” National Black Theatre. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://www.nationalblacktheatre.org/soul-series-lab
  23. National Black Theatre. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Part I). 2022.
  24. “Funders.” National Black Theatre. Accessed August 15, 2024. https://www.nationalblacktheatre.org/funders
  25. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Results for 13-2632596. Accessed August 15, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/full_text_search?sort=best&form%5B%5D=IRS990ScheduleI&year%5B%5D=2022&year%5B%5D=2023&q=13-2632596&submit=Apply
  26. Jeryl Brunner. “With Legions Of Fans Like Beyoncé And Alicia Keys, National Black Theatre Has Thrived For More Than 50 Years.” Forbes. December 14, 2023. Accessed August 16, 2024. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jerylbrunner/2023/12/14/with-legions-of-fans-like-beyonc-and-alicia-keys-the-national-black-theatre-has-thrived-for-more-than-50-years/
  27. “Her Life is Her Art.” Story and Rain. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://storyandrain.com/article/people-her-life-is-her-art-sade-lythcott
  28. “Sade Lythcott. The Kennedy Center. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://www.kennedy-center.org/artists/l/lo-lz/sade-lythcott/
  29. Nikki Ogunnaike. “National Black Theatre’s Sade Lythcott and Jonathan McCrory join playwright Ngozi Anyanwu to discuss what comes next for the iconic institution..” Harper’s Bazaar. June 13, 2022. Accessed August 16, 2024. https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/a40062157/national-black-theatre-conversation/
  30. The Movement Theatre Company – About Us. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://www.themovementtheatrecompany.org/leadership-history
  31. “About Us.” ArtEquity. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://www.artequity.org/about-us
  32. “Biography.” Jonathan McCrory. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://www.jonathanmccrory.com/bio
  33. “Construction Starts On The New Legendary National Black Theatre In Harlem.” Harlem World. June 24, 2022. Accessed August 16, 2024. https://www.harlemworldmagazine.com/construction-starts-on-the-new-legendary-national-black-theatre-in-harlem/
  34. “Transcript: Recorder interview with Van Jones.” Indianapolis Recorder. October 7, 2019. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://indianapolisrecorder.com/4d42413a-e92a-11e9-9b89-0b40e4982f2e/
  35. Van Jones. “Welcome to the ‘Great Awakening.’” CNN. June 14, 2020. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/12/opinions/great-awakening-empathy-solidarity-george-floyd-jones/index.html
  36. Samantha Dorsica. “Van Jones Says He Was Going To Be Put ‘In An Early Grave’ After Receiving $100M From Jeff Bezos. October 11, 2023. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/van-jones-says-going-put-184934327.html
  37. LinkedIn – Van Jones. Accessed August 17, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/van-jones-7160bb4b/
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: October - September
  • Tax Exemption Received: May 1, 1970

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2022 Oct Form 990 $5,134,746 $2,652,993 $5,847,848 $735,850 N $4,711,493 $397,536 $4,898 $0
    2021 Oct Form 990 $2,230,682 $1,437,946 $2,967,352 $337,107 N $2,077,384 $60,685 $71 $0 PDF
    2020 Oct Form 990 $2,481,727 $1,311,335 $2,069,070 $231,561 N $2,282,032 $198,005 $88 $0
    2019 Oct Form 990 $1,254,874 $1,081,147 $740,844 $73,727 N $771,493 $462,116 $3,311 $0 PDF
    2018 Oct Form 990 $1,234,193 $932,212 $640,834 $147,444 N $679,884 $550,925 $580 $0 PDF
    2017 Oct Form 990 $704,362 $731,539 $224,621 $21,692 N $307,460 $396,900 $1 $0
    2016 Oct Form 990 $867,527 $587,188 $329,553 $27,615 N $514,029 $363,491 $4 $0 PDF
    2015 Oct Form 990 $715,643 $612,317 $445,793 $314,944 N $339,662 $375,981 $0 $0 PDF
    2014 Oct Form 990 $444,473 $453,034 $318,575 $291,052 N $201,836 $242,634 $3 $0 PDF
    2013 Oct Form 990 $509,463 $519,078 $132,286 $299,094 N $272,974 $236,486 $3 $0 PDF
    2012 Oct Form 990 $534,395 $470,334 $112,222 $269,415 N $362,808 $171,587 $0 $31,070 PDF
    2011 Oct Form 990 $404,573 $429,797 $1,568,525 $1,052,608 N $219,781 $184,788 $4 $31,070 PDF
    2010 Oct Form 990 $371,773 $423,588 $1,603,232 $1,062,091 N $236,710 $134,887 $176 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    National Black Theatre (NBT)

    213 W 137TH ST
    Harlem, NY 10030-2406