A case study of Crossroads Theatre: A regional African American theater in New Brunswick, New Jersey

Key organizational theories and concepts, including leadership, communication, marketing and fundraising, were reviewed and then applied to the case study examination of Crossroads Theatre, a prominent African American theatre in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Crossroads Theatre, a professional identity-based theatre, established in 1978, was well-known for being an artistic home and community for African American artists, directors, actors and playwrights; and it is the only African American theatre to win a Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, Even with celebrity support from actors including Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad, and numerous awards for outstanding service, the theatre was forced to suspend operations in 2001 due to a financial debt of approximately $2 million. The case study sought to understand the factors, both internal and external, that led to the suspension. Primary and secondary data was obtained through written surveys and phone interview with former staff and board members of the theatre. Questions were asked in order to obtain information regarding the leadership, communication, marketing and fundraising organizational structures and culture.