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Introduction
New Freedom Theatre is an African-American theatre company in residence at the Freedom Theatre in Philadelphia, PA. The Theatre is known for providing world class productions rooted in the African American tradition. The theatre has mounted several hundred productions, as well as having taught tens of thousand of student in their educational programs, in their 50 year history. (NFT Website)

Transfer of Ownership
The New Freedom Theatre's current space was built as one of the first mansions on Philadelphia's Broad Street, initially owned by a brewer by the name of William Gaul. Soon after in 1853, Edwin Forrest, a prolific tragedian, would purchase the home. Upon his death in 1872, Edwin left his estate to retired actors. New Freedom Theatre was founded by John E. Allen, Jr. and Robert E. Leslie, Sr. in 1966. The company has utilized the Edwin Forrest mansion as their theatre space since 1968. The facility now houses small meeting & rehearsal rooms, a black box theatre, private reception lobby, and 299-seat proscenium John E. Allen, Jr. Theatre. (NFT Website)

Acquisition
July 10, 1990, The New Freedom Theatre is acquired by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission providing renovations for the New Freedom Theatre for a nominal sum.

Leadership
After the death of co-founder and artistic director John E. Allen, Jr., the theatre’s board of directors appointed Walter Dallas, former head of Philadelphia’s University of the Arts theatre program. Dallas made the theatre an Equity house and created links with theatre professionals across the country to bring prominence to the New Freedom Theatre. Under the leadership of Walter Dallas, the company completed a $10-million capital fund-raising drive which created the 299-seat John E. Allen, Jr. theatre, which opened for the 1996-1997 season. (American Theatre 1995 Graham)

After serving as the guest artistic director of The New Freedom Theatre, Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj now serves as the fourth ever full-time artistic director for the theatre; following the likes of John E. Allen, Jr., Robert E. Leslie, Sr., and Walter Dallas. He is an Indo-Caribbean American artist, educator and activist. His credits at the New Freedom Theatre include The Ballad of Trayvon Martin, Jamaica, Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope, The Colored Museum, and Walk Through Time. The Executive Producing Director is Sandra Norris Haughton. She is known as an successful professional in evaluating and implementing new strategies for cultural institutions in distress and developed transformational strategies to redefine and make them viable. (NFT Website)

Education
New Freedom Theatre offers educational programming for all age groups including elementary, middle school, high school, and adults. Education program participants study traditional and contemporary performance skills & theory, various techniques, writing and aspects of technical production. 65% of Philadelphia school children finish high school while 98% of Freedom Theatre students do, and 55% of Philadelphia high school graduates move on to higher education while 85% of Freedom theatre students do. (NFT Website)

Alumni
Notable alumni from the New Freedom Theatre include: Erika Alexander, Leslie Odom, Samm-Art Williams, and Wayna Morris.

Opposition
The theatre now faces Temple university encroaching on the theatre and taking on significant building projects in the theatre’s neighborhood. (Philly Voice) There was backlash in 2016 when a group of instructors at the New Freedom Theatre Performing Arts Training School were fired after years of service. Leadership says they were revamping the program due to low enrollment and to make the theatre stronger and more sustainable. (CBS Local)