Board of Directors
Voza Rivers, Founding Member / Executive Producer
Marva Allen Esq., President
Jamal Joseph, Senior Artistic Director
Janice Marie Robinson, Secretary
Board Members
Katsuya Abe
Bill Covington Esq.
Helen Covington
Debra Grant
Barbara Horowitz
Jardenia Kifle
Marco Shalma
Yasmin McFarlan Vaughn Esq.
Shirley Washington, CPA
Sylvia White
George Williams, MD
Irene Gandy
Aaliythia Stevens
New Heritage Theatre Group, the oldest Black non-profit theater company in New York City, originated in 1964 under the name New Heritage Repertory Theatre by the late Roger Furman, a revered playwright, director, actor and lecturer, who began his career in the 1940s with the American Negro Theatre in Harlem. Its mission, to preserve and sustain classic works of Black theatre.
U.S. Writer, Director, Producer, Poet, and Activist
Professor of Professional Practice at Columbia University School of the Arts in the Film Department
One of the Panther 21 while incarcerated for his active participation in the Black Panther Party Joseph earned two college degrees and wrote five plays and two volumes of poetry. He is a full professor and former chair of Columbia University’s Graduate Film Division and the artistic director of the New Heritage Theatre Group in Harlem. He has been featured on HBO's Def Poetry Jam, BET's American Gangster and on Tupac Shakur's "The Rose That Grew From Concrete" Volumes 1 & 2. He is the author of the interactive biography on Tupac Shakur,Tupac Shakur Legacy.
NHTG was established in 1964 as the New Heritage Repertory Theatre (NHRT)
Founded by the late Roger Furman, Playwright, Director, Actor, and Lecturer
Furman's career in Harlem began at the American Negro Theater in the 1940s. He began New Heritage Repertory Theater (NHRT) in 1964 as a street theater while employed with HARYOU-ACT, a federally-financed anti-poverty program in Harlem. Furman's career in Harlem began at the American Negro Theater in the 1940s. He began New Heritage Repertory Theater (NHRT) in 1964 as a street theater while employed with HARYOU-ACT, a federally-financed anti-poverty program in Harlem.
Pioneer of Diverse Cultural and Educational Exchange Programs
Promote Tourism and Global Economic Development
International Producer of New Heritage Theatre Group and co‐produced international festivals, tours and events including: JAZZ FOR PEACE, SAKURA CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL, UNHEARD NOTES INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION (which had the participation of Artists with disabilities from 125 different countries, in events held in the USA, Japan, and Canada), INAMORI ART PROJECT: PRAYER OF LOVE AND PEACE and others.
Award Winning Producer of Theater, Film, Music & Live Events
Local, National and International Impresario for the Advancement of Arts and Culture
Voza Rivers is a leading theater, music, and events producer and documentary filmmaker, born in Harlem, New York. Rivers is the executive producer and founding member of the New Heritage Theatre Group (established in 1964) and executive producer and co-founder of IMPACT Repertory Theatre, the Oscar-nominated youth division of New Heritage Theatre Group led by U.S. director, activist and educator Jamal Joseph. He has produced and co-produced theater, music, and television projects, film festivals, and music tributes in the United States, Japan, South Africa, and the UK.
New Heritage Theatre Group includes:
