Crown Hill Theater Opens At The Former Black Lady Theater Site In BK

CROWN HEIGHTS, NY — A three-story arts complex and theater focused on local youth development opened in a historic Crown Heights location once home to the Black Lady Theater.

Crown Hill Theater, now sitting on Nostrand Avenue between Park and Sterling Places, will offer the neighborhood rentable event space, recording studios, co-working spaces, a film and broadcast room and theater.

Revenues from those rental spaces will fuel its youth development programming for folks aged 18-24, helping them get hands-on industry experience, courses in technology and music, mentorship and work opportunities. All theater collaborators will be required to utilize the young participants during their events, said Crown Hill Theater leadership Peter Tulloch and Gillann Blunschi.

The new spot opened on Dec. 5, and early visitors on studio tours were immediately impressed by the space's "grandness" and "wow factor," Blunschi said.

"It literally is a whole vibe," said Theresa O’Neal Redd, a representative of Crown Hill Theater. "And it's right on time."

Eventually, the space will host curated performances and events like movies and senior nights, while also renting out to local nonprofits and performers, said Crown Hill Theater's Founder Tulloch.

The site holds huge significance to the local community, sitting on the property home to Black Lady Theater for three decades, the owners of which have long been in a property battle.

Omar Hardy and his late father, Clarence, contend they are the rightful owners of the property at 750 Nostrand Ave., and were never notified about a tax-lien foreclosure auction that put the deed in the hands of another company.

Omar Hardy said on Instagram he would not be supportive of any new leasers, which would be considered "a fruit of the poisonous tree." Protesters in support of The Black Lady Theater met Crown Hill Theater's first guests outside on opening night, BKReader reported.

Hardy said he would be open to working with collaborative partners in his Instagram video. Tulloch said Crown Hill Theater, which is leasing the space, has seen significant local support.

In its history also lies solid foundations for an amazing theater, Tulloch said.

All he did was "polish" a "diamond in the rough," as the theater founded by Judge John L. Phillips Jr. was laid out beautifully, he said.

"This existed before I did. Yes, we did renovations, yes we did all we had to do but the true essence of the building was part of a vision of a man named Judge Phillips and we have to pay homage to that," Tulloch said.

Tulloch said the property's new owners were considering tearing down the building and converting it into an apartment complex, and he was largely motivated to preserve the space as a community arts center.

"Wanting to save it was very important to us," Tulloch said. "Once it's gone it's gone."

And Crown Heights offered the perfect neighborhood, where exhibits of artistic greats like Spike Lee and Jay-Z sit nearby. The neighborhood's rich artistic history was acknowledged in a speech by City Council Member Chi Ossé at the opening.

"Crown Heights is a historic neighborhood. Both the physical character of the neighborhood and the strong communities that call it home can be traced back generations," Ossé said. "I grew up a couple blocks away, I feel its history in its bones.

Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso agreed Brooklyn was the perfect home for Crown Hill Theater.

"When we look at all the greats that come out from acting to dancing, they all come out because they've been exposed to centers like this that really harness their energy, harness their talents," said Reynoso. "To have it here in the center of Black Brooklyn, I can't tell you how amazing it feels."