APRIL 2025-JUNE 2025 -
New York, NY – New Heritage Theatre Group (NHTG) continues to be recognized for its six decades of transformative work in the arts, humanitarian service, global cultural exchange, and community empowerment.
Founded in 1964 by Roger Furman as a street theater in the heart of Harlem, New Heritage Theatre Group has grown under the visionary leadership of Voza Rivers into a globally connected cultural institution while remaining rooted in its Harlem community.
HONORS
Celebrating Contributions to Arts and Culture
Spirit of the People Award Presented to Voza Rivers and NHTG
On Thursday, May 29, 2025, the 14th Annual People’s Film Festival presented the Spirit of the People Award to Voza Rivers and New Heritage Theatre Group at Harlem’s Magic Johnson Theater. The award recognized their longstanding contributions to local and global arts and culture, including the production of over 50 documentaries and impactful theatrical works.
23rd Annual Uptown Arts Stroll Honored NHTG, Harlem Arts Alliance, and Voza Rivers
On May 30, 2025, at the 23rd Annual Uptown Arts Stroll, the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance (NoMAA) honored Voza Rivers, NHTG, and the Harlem Arts Alliance (HAA) for organizing monthly HAA Town Hall meetings that unite over 200 multidisciplinary artists, cultural organizations, and funders.
Former WNBC Anchor Carol Jenkins and Board Member Martin Collins presented the award, highlighting HAA’s and NHTG’s vital role in supporting arts programs across Harlem, West Harlem, Washington Heights, and Inwood.
Voza Rivers expressed deep gratitude to the West Harlem Development Corporation (WHDC) and Harlem Community Development Corporation (HCDC), saying: “WHDC’s and HCDC’s ongoing partnerships with both HAA and NHTG have made it possible to produce plays, films, concerts, forums, and music that reach thousands. Their support allows us to share Harlem’s rich story across New York City, the nation, and the world.”
NHTG UPCOMING EVENTS
A Stage Reading
Sunday, June 8, 2025, 6pm, Shades of Truth Theatre and NHTG will present “Return of the Revolutionaries” at Comedy in Harlem, 750A St. Nicholas Ave. This staged reading is a sequel to the play and feature film “The Last Revolutionary” written and directed by award winning playwright, Levy Lee Simon, with readings from Shades of Truth Theatre producer and director—Michael Green, Benja K. Thomas, Patrice Battey, Reginald Barnes, Aaron Watkins, and Levy Lee Simon. For ticket info call 646-488-9576.
BLACK MUSIC MONTH
harlem is…Music ALIVE!
On Monday, June 16, 2025, 11am, in honor or Black Music Month Community Works and New Heritage Theatre Group, invite our friends, patrons and supporters to a once in a lifetime community celebration--harlem is…Music ALIVE! Guests will experience the melodic voice of Cruz Angel--2024 Apollo Amateur Night winner, the melodic voices of the New York African Chorus Ensemble, and Daniel Carlton—actor, storyteller and playwright. This will be a once in a lifetime community celebration of music in Harlem from its African origin and music encompassing a vast and diverse music tradition including gospel, classical, jazz, hip hop and music from today. There will also be a special tribute to Joyce Adewumi of the New York African Chorus Ensemble and George Harrell of Harrell Community Outreach. To attend the free program, please register at https://forms.gle/DkDpYdCv6peRrQpCA.
GLOBAL CONNECTIONS
Japan–Harlem Cultural Bridge
Japanese Super Choir’s Juneteenth Tribute to NHTG and the Late Katsuya Abe
Taeko Glory, Executive Committee Chair of the Japanese Super Choir, announced that on Thursday, June 19, 2025, the Choir will present a live-streamed anniversary concert honoring America’s Juneteenth holiday and its meaning—the 1865 emancipation of enslaved African Americans.
This year’s concert is dedicated to Mr. Katsuya Abe, a beloved NHTG partner who helped build the Harlem-Japan cultural bridge before his passing in 2022. Proceeds will benefit New Heritage Theatre Group in his memory.
The Super Choir, composed of 100 gospel directors and singers, uses gospel music to uplift communities affected by earthquakes and other natural disasters in Japan and promote cultural understanding.
Over the years, NHTG’s youth division, IMPACT Repertory Theatre, has collaborated with the Super Choir on recordings inspired by the legacy of Harry Belafonte—who championed the arts for social change. One highlight: their joint recording of Bob Marley’s One Love, blends voices from IMPACT Repertory Theatre in Harlem, the Super Choir in Japan, and the Orphaned Children from Zimbabwe.
Taeko Glory shared, “Gospel music, rooted in the American Civil Rights Movement, gave African Americans the strength to reclaim their humanity after slavery. In Japan, gospel opened the emotional doors of our hearts. For us, experiencing Black culture is a life-changing gift.”
The Juneteenth event symbolizes Japan’s recognition of this historic U.S. holiday and celebrates the enduring global power of cultural exchange through music. NHTG continues to use its global connections to foster a culture of peace that transcends national, racial, religious and cultural barriers.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Local Impact Through Literacy
Book Drives Enrich Harlem’s Healing Spaces
In April 2025, NHTG partnered with the Manhattan Theatre Club and Marcia Pendleton, Founder and CEO of Walk Tall Girl Productions, hosted a successful book drive collecting more than 1,000 books which were donated to Harlem Hospital, including Cicely Tyson’s Estate’s book collection. At the presentation ceremony, Harlem Hospital Center’s Chief Executive Officer Georges LeCount acknowledged the therapeutic power of reading and its impact on the healing environment for patients, staff, and visitors.
A second NHTG-sponsored children’s book drive, also in April and in partnership with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Tau Omega Chapter, collected hundreds of children’s books for the Sorority’s Uplift Our Local Community initiative, focused on health and literacy in Central Harlem.
