Black Theatre United (BTU) has revealed its new Executive Leadership Committee, which will be led by Tony winner LaChanze as President, who previously served as vice president. Also joining the team are Michael McElroy as vice president, Lisa Dawn Cave as secretary, Norm Lewis as treasurer, and Tamara Tunie as compliance officer .
The previous committee comprised President Audra McDonald, Vice President LaChanze, Treasurer Capathia Jenkins, and Secretary Schele Williams.
The nonprofit begins the 2022 season with fulfilling commitments to the New Deal for Broadway initiative honoring Black theatre artists, released in August 2021. BTU has worked with the Shubert Organization to rename the Cort Theatre to the James Earl Jones Theatre, and with the Nederlander Organization to rename the Brooks Atkinson Theatre as the Lena Horne Theatre.
“We are proud of the legacy that we are building, and we are grateful for your support as we continue to do the important work to preserve our history and ensure the legacy of Black theatre as American culture,” said the BTU Executive Leadership Committee in a statement.
The organization focuses on building support systems and opening accessibility for Black and other historically marginalized theatre students and industry professionals. Founding members of BTU include Lisa Dawn Cave, Darius de Haas, Carin Ford, Capathia Jenkins, LaChanze, Kenny Leon, Norm Lewis, Audra McDonald, Michael McElroy, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Wendell Pierce, Billy Porter, Anna Deavere Smith, Allyson Tucker, Tamara Tunie, Lillias White, NaTasha Yvette Williams, Schele Williams, and Vanessa Williams.
For more information, visit BlackTheatreUnited.com.