MISSION :
"...the next wave of aesthetics in words looks like New York's Progress Theater..." ~San Francisco Chronicle
PROGRESS THEATRE (PT) is an international touring ensemble of multi-disciplined performers committed to using art to encourage social consciousness, cross-community dialogue and cultural awareness. Since 2001, PT has inspired audiences coast-to-coast with dynamic performances that fuse theatre, dance, blues, storytelling, spirituals, R&B, poetry, and hip-hop to explore the social concerns and insights of today's young adult generation.
PT's unique brand of performance blends African American cultural legacy with contemporary artistic genre, academia with popular culture, and politics with social realities, all contributing to the groups' appeal to both old and new generations of theatergoers. The ensemble pushes beyond the borders of "traditional" theatre asserting themselves as a distinctive voice in the up and coming generation of American theatre.
PT's growing tour Repertoire includes original full-length plays PEACHES (PT's most highly acclaimed piece), 'MEMBUH and a myriad of shorter works. The Ensemble’s newest pieces, The Rain and Shahadah, are scheduled to premiere in the 2009-10 season. PT’s roster of theatre seasons includes an international tour as part of the World Music Theatre Festival, sold-out performances at New York’s world-famous APOLLO THEATRE and PERFORMANCE SPACE 122, and residencies at YERBA BUENA CENTER FOR THE ARTS (San Francisco), NEW JERSEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER and the NATIONAL BLACK THEATER FESTIVAL. View PT’s PERFORMANCE HISTORY for more!
COMMUNITY OUTREACH INITIATIVES
GENERATION PROGRESS, PT’s arts and education program, and THE OPEN STAGE, a pre-show performance session featuring upcoming and veteran artists in selected tour cities have quickly become signatures at PT performances. By engaging various communities onstage and off, PROGRESS THEATRE strives to change the make-up of average theatergoers, encouraging audiences diverse in race, age and spiritual background.
For more information, bookings or to join our mailing list, CONTACT PT.
