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CEO

Harlem native Sade Lythcott is the Chief Executive Officer of the historic National Black Theatre, the nation’s first revenue generating Black Arts complex and the longest run theater by a woman of color. Sade is the daughter of the late Dr. Barbara Ann Teer, founder of NBT and legendary champion of African-American arts and culture. Sade currently serves as the chair of the Coalition of Theaters of Color, an alliance of 42 theaters across New York City; founded by Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee in 2004 to combat the systemic inequities in the field and to ensure that theaters of color are funded equitably. Most recently Sade is leading the New York City’s Cultural Institution Group (CIG) re-opening working group, helping New York’s cultural sector in all five boroughs navigate reopening post COVID-19 statewide quarantine. Lythcott also proudly sits on the national board of advisors for Art in a Changing America.

Sade’s activism work has been written about in national publications including the New York Times, Harper’s Bazaar and Essence magazine. She is the recipient of numerous awards including the Key to Harlem for her excellence in the Arts by State Senator Brian Benjamin, the Networks Journal’s top 40 under 40 award, the Larry Leon Hamlin Legacy Award from Black Theatre Network and the Cultural Icon award by Harlem Fashion Week. In 2012, Sade wrote and produced the highly acclaimed musical A Time To Love, garnering three AUDELCO nominations and is currently in development in partnership with the world famous Apollo theatre.


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