Black-Owned Businesses: Changemakers Creating History
Tegan Summer, Founder of Tegan Summer Theatricals
To celebrate Black History Month, I want to celebrate a few Black-owned businesses.
Alvin Ailey performed in four Broadway shows, including House of Flowers and Jamaica. In 1958, he founded Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater to carry out his vision of a company dedicated to enriching the American modern dance heritage and preserving the uniqueness of the African-American cultural experience.
The American Slavery Project is a theatrical response to revisionism in American discourse about enslavement and its aftermath.
Since June 3, the Anti-Racism Daily has been sending one email a day pairing current events with historical context and personal reflections on how racism persists in the U.S. (and around the world). The newsletter is free, and readers can make a contribution here. There’s also a paid group subscription option for workplaces and schools to get weekly discussion guides, monthly reporting, and other perks.
Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV) is a diverse, professional choir of Broadway artists, united to change lives through the power of music and service. The company was founded by Michael McElroy in 1994 as the Broadway Gospel Choir and in 1999 reincarnated to its current name. In 2019, they were awarded Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre.
The Broadway Advocacy Coalition builds the capacity of individuals, organizations, and communities to dismantle the systems that perpetuate racism through the power of storytelling and the leadership of people directly affected.
💥 In case you missed it 💥
Following incredible events in 2020 discussing anti-racism, healing, self-care and decolonization in education, the Broadway Advocacy Coalition recently held a forum on enacting change towards anti-racist and equitable spaces in the theatre community.
Broadway Babysitters provides world-class short-term and long-term childcare for New York City families, including for artists. The babysitters are Broadway performers, singers, dancers, actors, artists, stage managers, stagehands, and more.
Broadway Black is an organization that fosters and inspires artistic diversity and excellence in theatre. Dedicated to highlighting the achievements and successes of Black theatre artists on and off the Broadway stage, Broadway Black, founded in 2012 by Drew Shade, has continued to grow into a one-of-a-kind multimedia venture with editorial content that showcases the best and the brightest stars across the industry.
Core Rhythm Fitness specializes in mind, body, and spirit transformation. Renowned as Broadway’s and New York City’s fitness hub, the boutique fitness and nutrition company is dedicated to manifesting remarkable and sustainable results.
Founded by Sequoia Mulgrave, DailyMode Studio helps small business owners and creative entrepreneurs make more money through web design strategies and automated emails that don’t suck and convert!
The Harlem Chamber Players is an ethnically diverse collective of professional musicians dedicated to bringing high-caliber, affordable and accessible live classical music to people in the Harlem community and beyond.
Hello Seven teaches women how to build wealth. They provide business training, legal services, and money mindset coaching to help you achieve your financial goals. They want you to have so much money, you never have to worry about money again!
National Black Theatre [NBT] was founded in 1968 in the heart of Harlem by the late Dr. Barbara Ann Teer, an award winning, visionary artist and entrepreneur. With a distinguished history of innovative work in its community, NBT is among the oldest Black Theaters in the country, and amongst the longest owned and operated by a woman of color.
NB Studios was founded by Neville Braithwaite. A performer and filmmaker/videographer/editor, the work is incredible: from idea to premiere.
Stagebound, Inc. is a one of a kind training program for dedicated vocalists interested in honing their craft to the level of professional performance.
Tegan Summer is a West End and Broadway producer, a member of the Broadway League and Society of London Theatre (SOLT), CEO of Tegan Summer Theatricals & Timeless Stage & Screen, and an NAACP and Ovation award-recipient.
The Broadway Collective is training the next generation of Broadway artists. Created by Robert Hartwell, the entire team of faculty and mentors are all Broadway performers, directors, choreographers, and casting directors.
