EMMY WIN FOR WHRO PROJECT WITH NORFOLK STATE
WHRO Public Media recently won an Emmy Award for the documentary short The Historic Attucks Theater: Apollo of the South in the category of Television Special or Project. The project was commissioned by the City of Norfolk’s Attucks Theatre Centennial Commission, co-chaired by Norfolk State University Drama & Theatre Director, Professor Anthony Stockard. The project, a vision of Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Cooper Alexander, was a huge collaboration between the City of Norfolk’s
Attucks Documentary Committee, WHRO, Virginia Arts Festival, City Communications and Seven Venues. The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences presents these prestigious industry awards.
“The Attucks Theatre was one of the first in America to be designed, built and ran by African-Americans,” says Stockard. “It is right here in Norfolk and it now remains as one of the few theaters left standing in America from that era. We are honored that the project has garnered Emmy recognition.”
Professor Stockard also served as a member of the Attucks Documentary Committee alongside NSU College of Liberal Arts Dean, Dr. Cassandra Newby-Alexander. The project features Dr. Newby-Alexander as a historical consultant and Mr. JaQuan Jones, a NSU Spring 2020 Drama & Theatre graduate, as performer and interview subject.
The Attucks Theatre, one of Hampton Roads' greatest treasures, turned 100 years old in 2019 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Musicians of the greatest caliber have performed at the Attucks, legends like Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole and other legendary artists.
Professor Stockard, Mayor Alexander-Cooper
& Robert Cross.
VIEW THE EMMY WINNING DOCUMENTARY
THE HISTORIC ATTUCKS THEATER: APOLLO OF THE SOUTH
NSU's Nationally Acclaimed, Award-Winning Theatre Company
Under the direction of award-winning actor, director and educator Professor Anthony Mark Stockard, NSU Theatre Company is the producing organization for theatrical productions at Norfolk State University. Within the last five years, the company has garnered wide-spread audience acclaim, multiple honors and awards for excellence.
The mission of Norfolk State University Theatre Company is to serve as cultural ambassadors for Norfolk State University and diversify theatrical offerings within our region. This mission is accomplished by providing University students and the community with professional-grade experiences in theatre that are about, or told through the lens of, people from the African diaspora.
In 2016, NSU Theatre became the first HBCU Theatre Program and one of few undergraduate programs in the nation to form professional partnership agreements with a professional Equity company. This partnerships with Virginia Stage Company provides annual professional collaborations and training opportunities for participants. Since then, similar partnerships have been established with Virginia Arts Festival and Zeider's American Dream Theatre.
