Created in 2016, Yendor Theatre Company (YTC) bridged Rodney Gilbert's passion for theatre arts and his love for his community of Newark. Today, Yendor Theatre Company brings quality theatre programming to the City of Newark and develops, produces and celebrates the works of writers from historically resilient communities.

THEATRE FOR THE COMMUNITY… IN THE COMMUNITY

Yendor Theatre Company strives to produce theatre that not only engages all members in a community, but also to provide access to our under resourced yet historically resilient citizens.  To that end, we intentionally host, free, low-cost experiences, and we even take theatre into some of Newark’s most art starved neighborhoods, through our Summer Theatre Initiative.

Launched in 2019, and building on the amazing theatre partnership started with Founding Artistic Director, Rodney Gilbert and The Newark Riverfront Revival efforts led by Marcy Depina, YTC’s Summer Theatre Initiative, intentionally stages full theatre productions, in the most challenged neighborhoods of Newark. Our neighborhood focus seeks to engage communities without consistent art program or within proximity to art centers or hubs. Our hope is that by consistent, targeted engagement of areas without programming we can re-envision these spaces and these neighborhoods and leverage the immense power already present within the vibrant population, through creative placemaking!