Bill Text: NY K00624 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: commemorating the 50th Anniversary of The Billie Holiday Theatre in the Brooklyn community of Bedford-Stuyvesant

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-2)

Status: (Passed) 2022-03-07 - adopted [K00624 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-K00624-Introduced.html

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Assembly Resolution No. 624

BY: M. of A. Zinerman

        COMMEMORATING  the  50th Anniversary of The Billie
        Holiday  Theatre  in  the  Brooklyn   community   of
        Bedford-Stuyvesant

  WHEREAS,  It  is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor and pay
tribute  to  those  cultural  institutions   and   organizations   whose
commitment  to  promoting  the  richness  and  diversity of the arts and
entertainment world has  contributed  to  the  strength,  vitality,  and
cultural  enrichment  of  their  communities  and the great State of New
York; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  this  Legislative  Body  is  justly proud to
commemorate the 50th  Anniversary  of  The  Billie  Holiday  Theatre  in
Bedford-Stuyvesant,  Brooklyn,  in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary
of the "Lady Sings the Blues"; and

  WHEREAS, The 1972 American biographical film celebrates the  essence
of  Billie  Holiday,  one  of  America's  most loved and memorable blues
singers,  and  was  captured  brilliantly  in  a   tour-de-force   debut
performance  by singer Diana Ross; filled with the greatest songs of the
incomparable  "Lady  Day,"  the  film  received   five   Academy   Award
nominations, including Diana Ross for Best Actress; alongside her was an
extraordinary cast which included Billie Dee Williams and Richard Pryor;
and

  WHEREAS, The Billie Holiday Theatre, Inc. (BHT) was founded in 1972,
by  the  Bedford-Stuyvesant  Restoration  Corporation  (Restoration),  a
community development corporation whose mission is to be a catalyst  for
the  progressive  improvement  of the quality of life for its residents;
and

  WHEREAS, For the last five decades, The Billie Holiday  Theatre  has
served as a platform for world class art rooted in racial justice in the
heart  of  Bedford,  producing,  presenting,  and  commissioning new and
classic works and festivals in theater, dance, music, visual  arts,  and
film; and

  WHEREAS,  This  AUDELCO and Obie Award-winning Theatre also provides
artistic  and   institutional   residencies   and   offers   educational
programming to people of all ages; and

  WHEREAS,  In  1981,  The Billie Holiday Theatre made history when it
transferred the hit play Inacent Black to Broadway with  50  percent  of
the  financing  being  derived  from the Black community, a first in the
theatre world; and

  WHEREAS, Many of today's most successful actors, writers, designers,
and musicians got their start at The Billie Holiday  Theatre,  including
Samuel  L.  Jackson,  Debbie  Allen, Tichina Arnold, Bill Cobbs, Phyllis
Yvonne Stickney, Carol Woods, Elaine Graham and Ebony JoAnn; and

  WHEREAS, The great political satirist/comic, Dick Gregory  made  his
theatrical  comeback  after  20  years  on the stage, and audiences were
treated to the reunion of "Good Times" stars Ralph Carter and John Amos;
and

  WHEREAS, William "Smokey" Robinson's first musical, Raisin' Hell and
plays  by  Samm Art Williams, Weldon Irvine, and John Henry Redwood were
produced at The Billie Holiday Theatre; and

  WHEREAS, In addition, musicians Victor Willis and  Alex  Briley  met
and  performed  at  the Theatre prior to forming The Village People, and
Grammy Award winning bassist and producer Marcus Miller performed in the
venue's pit band; and

  WHEREAS, Today, under the luminous direction of  Board  Chair  Wayne
Winborne   and   his   fellow  Directors,  this  extraordinary  cultural
institution serves as a premier entertainment center in New  York  City,
the  hub of Bedford-Stuyvesant, and a true beacon for the arts which are
so vital to the community and the lives of its residents  and  visitors;
and

  WHEREAS, A vibrant arts community encourages collaboration, instills
local  pride,  draws  people together, and is essential to a community's
vitality; since its inception, The Billie Holiday  Theatre  has  greatly
contributed  to  the richness of New York's cultural palette and remains
steadfastly dedicated to ensuring this gem remains in all its glory  for
decades to come; and

  WHEREAS,  The arts are the building blocks of civilization; they are
central  to  human  expression;  they  enlighten  us  and  inspire   the
imagination;  educational  institutions,  individuals, and organizations
which further such worthy purposes  richly  merit  the  recognition  and
appreciation of this Legislative Body and the people of the State of New
York; and

  WHEREAS,  As  The Billie Holiday Theatre looks back with great pride
to its beginnings,  viewing,  with  just  satisfaction,  its  successful
evolution,   it  renews  both  its  dedication  to  supporting  artistic
excellence, and its commitment to the  community  it  has  served  since
1972,  expressing  its  appreciation  to  all  those  who have helped to
sustain and enhance it over the years; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
commemorate  the  50th  Anniversary of The Billie Holiday Theatre in the
Brooklyn community of Bedford-Stuyvesant; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to Wayne Winborne, Board Chair, The Billie Holiday Theatre.