OUR FOUNDING
THE VISIONARY…
Building on his tremendous work within the visual arts world, Rodney Gilbert created YTC in 2016, to bridge his passion for theatre arts and his love for his community in the City of Newark. Serving as the inaugural Artistic Director, Rodney created an ensemble of young artists to engage the local community in theatre arts.
Gilbert, a graduate of University of the Arts, served the arts community as an educator and administrator for various institutions and organizations. Rodney brought his artistic talents to a variety of institutions including NJPAC, New Community Corp, Arts Horizon, Passage Theatre, to name a few. He was a longtime professor at Drew University. He directed world premiere productions of Chisa Hutchinson’s New World Disorder & Surely Goodness and Mercy, Pia Wilson’s Down Neck and Aaliyah Habeeb’s Love Ya Like a Sis.