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Artist-in-Residence

Negro Ensemble Company photo, Brownstein Residency for Artistic Innovation Artist-in-Residence: Negro Ensemble Company

Brownstein Residency for Artistic Innovation
Artist-in-Residence: Negro Ensemble Company

The Brownstein Residency for Artistic Innovation links notable visiting artists to the Penn and Philadelphia communities with a focus on interdisciplinary work and experiences for broad audiences. The 22/23 season Brownstein Artist-in-Residence is the Negro Ensemble Company, a New York City mainstay and “arguably the most successful Black theatre group in the world.” (American Theatre) This exciting residency features a one-act play festival as well as the world premiere of Mecca is Burning, a commissioned play juxtaposing 1960s protest poetry with our current social climate. With the addition of school-day matinees for high schoolers, regular visits to campus classrooms and community outreach activities, this residency elevates meaningful and thought-provoking conversations on the monumental role of Black artists in shaping art and culture in our country.

Oct 8 | Our Voices, Our Time: One-Act Play Festival
Feb 15-18 | Mecca is Burning (World Premiere)

Rennie Harris photo, 22/23 Artist-in-Residence: Rennie Harris

Artist-in-Residence: Rennie Harris

Philadelphia’s legendary hip hop choreographer, Rennie Harris, finds a home base in this 22/23 season residency. With technical support from our Accelerator Program, Harris’ Puremovement will re-mount his most celebrated work, Rome & Jewels, a hip-hop-meets-Shakespeare journey through the streets of Philadelphia, kicking off a tour in celebration of the company’s 30th anniversary. Beyond the debut of this groundbreaking production, the residency will include co-curricular events on campus, a school-day matinee and outreach with West Philadelphia schools.

Dec 9-10 | Rennie Harris Puremovement: Rome & Jewels


ArtsForward logo Sachs logo
The Negro Ensemble Company Residency is funded in part by an ArtsForward grant from the Association of Performing Arts Professionals, made possible through support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. | Additional support has been provided through an Extended Artist Residency grant from The Sachs Program for Arts Innovation. | The Negro Ensemble Company Residency in the 22/23 season is made possible in part with support provided by the Penn Live Arts Accelerator Program at the University of Pennsylvania.

Rennie Harris Puremovement’s Rome & Jewels in the 22/23 season is made possible in part with support provided by the Penn Live Arts Accelerator Program at the University of Pennsylvania.