(NEWARK, NJ) -- Clinton Hill Community Action (CHCA), in partnership with New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), hosted Newark’s first South Ward Playwright Festival as part of their artsXchange programming on Thursday, August 10, 2023.
The works of five local playwrights were performed live to a packed audience in the Blk Box at the Gant-Gilbert Arts Collective at 505 Clinton Avenue. Brought to life as a staged reading performed by local actors and actresses, the works were a product of a 6-week intensive mentoring program facilitated by seasoned Playwright and Newarker Tracie Morrison offered through the artsXchange partnership.
The self-told stories varied in context, from the self motivation and determination reflected in “Uplifted" by Dorothy Gooden to the healing from grief and self love found in “A Sister's Cry” by Nataisha Jackson. “The Wake Up” by Rueben Anthony was a story of journeying and perseverance through mental health, while “Blue Floozy” by Margie “Mia x” Johnson exposed the “floozy” in us all. And finally “Burning Bridges” by Kenya Dubar laid bare the truth of how difficult maintaining healthy relationships can be. The five playwrights included a mix of veteran writers, veteran poets and new writers with a newfound passion. The playwrights themselves were expressly inspired to keep building upon what they created for the evening's festivities.
Local resident and Mildred Helms Park Resurrection Committee member Kwame Marshall was in attendance. He shared, “It was exciting to see NJPAC-level storytelling right here on Clinton Avenue.” Richard Whitten, of the Girard & Randolph Place Neighborhood Association, agreed and added, “It was really cool that all of the playwrights were from the neighborhood. We all could really see ourselves in their stories in one way or another.” During the post-performance Q&A, the audience applauded approvingly as an attendee asked when the next festival would take place.
Providing high quality produced arts programming to the residents of Clinton Hill and the surrounding South Ward is the primary goal of the artsXchange, a partnership between CHCA and NJPAC. While another playwright festival has yet to be scheduled, it is clear that demand is high for more events like this in Clinton Hill.
The festival was met with overwhelming positive responses from its attendees. “And this is why ArtsXChange exists” shared CHCA Deputy Director and Festival co-host Rhenotha Whitaker. She added, “Tonight was award-winning storytelling right here on Clinton Avenue, and the community’s presence tonight showed that art in all of its forms is not dead and is needed for our community! Clinton Hill residents want more access to arts programming produced by their neighbors in their neighborhood and that is exactly what artsXchange is going to continue to provide.”
To stay up to date on future artsXchange programming, please visit www.clintonhillaction.org/artsxchange. There you will find a calendar of upcoming events as well as a free registration form.
Clinton Hill Community Action (CHCA) is a nonprofit, community development organization that engages residents and partners to revitalize the Clinton Hill neighborhood in Newark’s South Ward. They believe this work must be led by residents, alongside partners who understand the centrality of the role of residents in naming challenges, identifying solutions that are most responsive to their hopes and aspirations, and collaboratively acting for sustained progress. CHCA facilitates this collaborative action and advocacy with a focus on quality, affordable housing, food security, economic empowerment, and environmental justice. Since their founding in 2019, they have worked to build trust in the community and engage residents to address long standing issues.
New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is among the largest performing arts centers in the United States. It is the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey — where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. As New Jersey’s Town Square, NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the State’s and the world’s best artists, while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted 11 million visitors (including almost two million children) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents.
