THEATRE OF THE LIVING WORD
Theatre of the Living Word proudly celebrates over three decades of bringing the excitement of live performance to local audiences. For their Silver Anniversary, the company staged William Shakespeare's Hamlet. Based primarily at the L. Charles Gray Theatre in the Presbyterian Church of Saint Albans, in Queens, New York, TLW also collaborates with other companies to go "beyond the walls," in order to reach wider audiences.
Working with the famed Caribbean American Repertory Theatre, TLW has presented Olivier Stephenson's Tradewinds, at the Metropolitan Community Church, and Errol John's Moon on a Rainbow Shawl at Henry Street Settlement. For Black History Month, the company staged a full-scale (with orchestra) production of Scott Joplin's Treemonisha, with the support of CUNY's York College Performing Arts Center.
The late Millicent Jones founded Theatre of the Living Word in the Spring of 1986. The first production staged was Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun. After many productive and successful years, Mr. Campbell succeeded her as Executive Director in January 2005. From the very beginning, PCSA’s dynamic Pastor, Rev. Dr. Edward Davis, has strongly supported and encouraged TLW's creative endeavors. With an eye to the future, young people are involved in every aspect of TLW productions, both onstage and behind the scenes.
Steven Moore, Marlon Campbell, and Destimona Anokye in HAMLET.
TLW has featured the plays of such acclaimed writers as Ossie Davis, Langston Hughes, Leslie Lee, Jeffrey Stetson, and Nannie L. Burroughs. In addition, the company has also presented many originals works, such as Then & Now, by Marlon Campbell, Sojourn, by Millicent Jones & Geri Taylor-Brown, and the very popular Caribbean drama Coralfish Island, by Douglas Nathaniel Williams.
Through the Saint Albans Multipurpose Community Center, the company has trained many young people in the Theatre Arts, as well as staging hip original plays such as MixDown, and A Kid's Life, wherein students served as designers, cast, and crew. TLW also collaborates with the PCSA Summer Vacation Bible School on their annual productions.
