Jersey City Children's Theater

About Jersey City Children's Theater

Jersey City Theater Center (JCTC) is a vibrant organization that strives to inspire conversations about the issues of our time. Founded by Executive Producer Olga Levina, an immigrant from Belarus, JCTC produces and presents works that are both universal and locally relevant, with an emphasis on social justice and human rights. Since 2006, JCTC has proudly provided a platform for all artistic voices to be heard. By engaging in meaningful dialogue through the arts, we foster greater understanding and respect, ultimately leading us to build better communities. Our core programs include Voices International Theatre Festival, Stories of Greenville, as well as original works. Additionally, JCTC also offers youth arts education, artist support, and community outreach. In 2021, JCTC served over 9,100 individuals and worked with more than 400 artists.

Programs

The classes, camps and experiences this business offers.

Voices International Theatre Festival

Voices International Theatre Festival showcases thematically provocative multidisciplinary works that provide a global and local cross-section of ethnic, racial, gender, and political perspectives. The festival, held annually since 2019, is an exchange of ideas, encouraging empathy and understanding between cultures and individuals. We have presented hundreds of individual artists and theatre companies from over 20 countries, including Belarus Free Theatre, Palesa Mazamisa (South Africa), Ranan (India), Roman Viktyuk Theatre (Russia), Matara (Israel), Sidra Bell Dance (New York), and Haeboma (South Korea).

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Artist Outreach and Development

JCTC is committed to providing an inclusive platform where historically marginalized and underrepresented artists have a safe space for artistic expression. We work with hundreds of artists each year in New Jersey and worldwide, encouraging non-traditional, experimental, and multimedia works. In addition, we host residencies for local artists and provide mentorship and professional development through programs like our Producer’s Lab. We also hold an open call for play submissions culminating in a month-long New Play Festival to showcase the work of emerging playwrights. In addition, we are active members of the International Society of the Arts (ISPA), the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP), Art Pride New Jersey, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

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Producing and Presenting Works

Throughout the year, JCTC stages original productions and events like our Global Music Series at locations that include White Eagle Hall and West Side Theatre at New Jersey City University. Past works have addressed the educational red-lining of urban communities of color, the transactional invisibility of undocumented labor, and what it means to be an “other” in your community. We regularly accompany these productions with talkbacks to foster meaningful dialogue, critical thinking, and reflection.

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