The Coalition of Theatres of Color Mourns the Loss of Dr. Josephine English

The Coalition of Theatres of Color (CTC) mourns the loss of Dr. Josephine English, 91, the first African American woman to have an OB/GYN practice in New York State and the founder of the Paul Robeson Theatre in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.

“Dr. English will be sorely missed. She was an original and staunch member of CTC and was on the frontline in creating and promoting quality Black theatrical productions” said Woodie King, the chairman of CTC and founder and director of New Federal Theatre. “When CTC was founded, we looked for members, who were Black theatre advocates and had political clout. Involving Dr. English was a priority. Dr. English understood that the survival of community Black theatres is in crisis--not only in New York City, but across America.”

As a physician, Dr. English had delivered thousands of babies including all of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz’s daughters and even Lynn Nottage, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright. To share health and nutrition information, Dr. English would create local fun performances for families in her Brooklyn neighborhood. The educational shows were her inspiration in establishing a theatre in an old church in 1980 and dedicating it to her former neighbor Paul Robeson.

Through Dr. English’s outreach, Paul Robeson Theatre has also become a popular destination for public schools, which bring busloads of children to see the plays. “We have a lot of plays that have lessons,” Dr. English stated in the CTC Summer 2011 newsletter. “The theatre is an educational tool.”

“All the members of the Coalition of Theatres of Color send our condolences to Michael Sheppard, Dr. English’s son and Paul Robeson Theatre’s artistic director, and her children John, Barry and Daniel Sheppard,” said King. “Dr. English was a remarkable person who made an indelible impact on New York’s Black theatre and community.”

Paul Robeson Theatre is currently undergoing a major restoration campaign for theatre renovations. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Paul Robeson Theatre Renovation project at 158 West Englewood Ave, Englewood, NJ 07631.

The Coalition of Theatres of Color (CTC) is a non-profit community of renowned multi-cultural theatre arts organizations in New York State. These institutions have joined forces to ensure sustainability and longevity of theatres of color in multicultural communities. Each institution brings over 25 years of artistic achievement with critically acclaimed and award-winning work and are known for nurturing the artistry of some of the world’s finest actors, directors, playwrights, producers, musicians and choreographers. New York City members are Afrikan Poetry Theatre, AUDELCO, Black Spectrum Theatre, Billie Holiday Theatre, H.A.D.L.E.Y Players, Mind-Builders, National Black Theatre, Negro Ensemble Co., New Federal Theatre, New Heritage Theatre Group, Pan Asian Repertory Theatre, and Paul Robeson Performing Arts Company. CTC’s chairman is acclaimed producer Woodie King. CTC is supported through grants from the New York City Council Committee, chaired by James Van Bramer, The New York Community Trust, The Nathan Cummings Foundation and NYSCA.

http://www.paulrobesontheater.org/