Harlem Theater
Synopsis
HARLEM, USA: in the aftermath of Martin Luther Kingâs murder, German filmmaker Klaus Wildenhahn turned his 16mm camera on the New Lafayette Theatre as its players rehearsed scenes, ran public workshops and conducted exercises in uptown Manhattan. New Lafayette (or NLT) had been founded by actor-director Robert Macbeth the previous year, with the aim of producing theater for black people, by black people, to reflect the experiences and vernacular of the Harlem community. Within the Black Arts Movement, NLT would become a significant institution: it published the journal Black Theatre, and employed a host of talents â including the Black Panthersâ Minister of Culture, Ed Bullins, and the great pianist Junior Mance, both of whom appear in Wildenhahnâs film as resident collaborators.
Where to watch
Not currently available to stream in United States.
