Harry Lennix Chicago state Illinois Congo show performer art Harry Lennix Chicago state Illinois Congo

Harry Lennix Set to Establish Black Cultural Center in Chicago

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variety.com

Wilson Chapman editorFor more than 20 years, Harry Lennix — an actor best known for his roles in TV shows and film such as “The Blacklist,” “Dollhouse” and “Justice League” — has been an advisor for the Chicago-based Black theater company Congo Square Theatre.

The company, which doesn’t have a permanent performance space, has struggled to find venues for shows, a situation Lennix says is all too common for many Black arts organizations.“On two hands, you can count the number of Black theatre companies in the country that actually have bricks and mortar,” Lennix tells Variety. “Which is shocking, but true.”The experience made Lennix wish that there was a center in Chicago that could act as a hub for Black artists in the city.

And eventually, he decided to make that vision a reality. On April 19, Lennix was awarded a $26 million grant by the state of Illinois to fund his proposed Lillian Marcie Center for the Performing Arts.

Located on 4343 S. Cottage Grove Ave, in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood, this center is intended to act as a performing arts space dedicated to Black artists and creators, with a museum that archives and spotlights Black performing artists throughout history.According to Lennix, active development for the Lillian Marcie Center began didn’t start until 2018, when he partnered with David Wade to help begin efforts for the project.

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