Community Corner

Dr. English Brought Black Theater to Fort Greene

The 91-year-old woman with a laundry list of accomplishments is key to the neighborhood's arts scene.

Long before Fort Greene became the apple of real estate agents’ eye, Dr. Josephine English opened up a theater that served as a haven for black artists and kids looking to nurture their love for the stage.

In 1980 English purchased the majestic church on Greene Avenue between Adelphi Street and Clermont Avenue and converted it into . The Catholic church had previously served a mostly Polish congregation, though by that time most of the parishioners had left the neighborhood.

“I told them we have enough churches in Brooklyn — too many!” said English, who is 91 years old. “I wanted to make it a theater, everyone was shocked! Everyone said you can’t do it!”

Find out what's happening in Fort Greene-Clinton Hillwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But she did, naming the theater after the multi-talented civil rights activist who delivered a legendary performance of “Othello” on Broadway in 1943.

Of course, English had already overcome numerous obstacles prior to opening her theater; in 1949 she graduated as the first black woman licensed to practice obstetrics and gynecology in New York State.

Find out what's happening in Fort Greene-Clinton Hillwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But now the theater is struggling financially and . English hopes to gather the funds to see her theater restored soon, but she admits it is a tough task. Many of the new arrivals in the neighborhood are unfamiliar with what the theater meant to the community during much more violent times.

“We converted the building into a beautiful part of the neighborhood — people forget that!” she said. “We were here when the neighborhood was bad, we had [artistic] camps and took in the kids, some of them off the street.”


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Fort Greene-Clinton Hill