Message from our Artistic Director
Keith E. Johnston

American Theatre of Harlem is dedicated to continuing the great tradition that Hal DeWindt (Founder) and so many others have passed on for the sake of joy, edutainment, and a creative life experience. ATH produces American theater out of New York City, the microcosm of the world. Harlem, during the Renaissance, had become a world known community that signified the creative genius of the oppressed. This concept is no longer confined to the region of Harlem but now a universal village representing a high standard of artistic expression that has educational value.

Acting is a life long process and the discoveries in this art form are endless. As one of its founding members, I came to ATH, a professional actor/musician, to study with Mr. DeWindt in 1989. Hal immediately took me under his wing until he passed away in 1997. In honoring Hal I felt a great sense of responsibility to continue what I, and so many others, received from this great man of art.

These days it seems as though people have better relationships with machines than with human beings. As younger generations become dependent on virtual communication and non-participatory exchange, it becomes more crucial for live interaction. Theater is live, and the excitement of the moment is always present. It allows the "limitless child" in us to evolve.

ATH continues to invite people to experience the power of theater. The theater incorporates all art forms, demanding great skill and ethics with love and passion as its main ingredients. This selfless, collaborative artistic medium gives license to exercise all the senses connected to the mind, body and spirit regardless of genre. The theatre is one of the most collaborative arts forms which demands a plethora of skills working simultaneously for live or recorded production. At the core of ATH is a school for actors to learn the craft of collaboration, interpretation and communication as it relates to the stories that are told through several mediums.

In 1994 I began teaching and directing for ATH. The Actors' workshops I conduct incorporate a combination of the highly eclectic training I received from Hal, and 30 years of professional experience. The workshop has grown over the years to be one of the most comprehensive and affordable training grounds in NYC. No matter what level, participants learn the skills and gain the confidence needed to launch, or enhance their careers.

The driving force behind my philosophy in guiding the direction of ATH is my love for people and their stories. There are so many stories that need to be told. I love the "art of play", and believe it is an essential part of being a healthy human being. Anyone who has taken workshops, or has been in an ATH production knows the passion and dedication that we have for the theater in general and this Company in particular.

My personal mission is to unite and heal through the power of this art form, and to tell our stories with integrity and dignity. There needs to be an honest place for people to feel the tremendous power of love and possibility that has been given to us as human beings. That place is the American Theatre of Harlem.

"Let's Heal the World with Art."