Who's Who H. Geraldine (Gerry) Patton, our new Executive Director, is a skilled business professional with more than 30-years of experience in marketing, publishing, staff training and human resources. Prior to joining NCBRC, she was the Winston-Salem Office Manager for the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) a national, non-profit community development organization and was Director of Client Services for Segmented Marketing Services, Inc. (SMSi), a premier multi-cultural marketing company based in Winston-Salem. She was the Administrator for Corporate Banking Training Programs at Wachovia Corporation. During her 12 year relationship with the National Black Theatre Festival®, Patton served as a volunteer, a volunteer co-coordinator and office staff, giving her a broad knowledge into the organization’s internal workings. Additionally, she’s a former member of the NCBRC Board of Directors and past president of the NCBRC Guild Board.
NCBRC Artistic Director Mabel Robinson is a native of Savannah, Georgia and a graduate of the NYC High School of Performing Arts (Fame) and the Juilliard School of Music. Robinson’s illustrious career spans Broadway, television, film, opera houses and concert stages throughout the world. She is a director, choreographer, playwright and performer. She danced in prestigious companies including Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham, and Talley Beatty. Robinson has appeared in feature films, Cotton Comes To Harlem, Funny Lady, and The Wiz, and television movies Dare To Love and Sister-In-Laws. The Houston Grand Opera’s TV production of Treemonisha garnered Robinson an Emmy Nomination for choreography. She’s served as Cultural Specialist teaching the art of movement in dance and drama at International dance seminars in Russia, Belgium, Holland, Budapest, and Zimbabwe. Robinson has worked with NCBRC for many years as a director/chore-ographer in productions of Don’t Bother Me I Can’t Cope, Celebrations, An African Odyssey, Ain’t Misbehavin’, The Glory of Gospel, and Mahalia, Queen of Gospel. She was also the playwright of the latter two productions. These ladies will provide strong leadership as they combine their business and artistic talents to further NCBRC’s theatrical endeavors and preserve the vision first crafted by company founder, Larry Leon Hamlin. Patton and Robinson have the support of a highly qualified office team-
Professor Arthur M. Reese received his Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Virginia . Reese was the first and to our knowledge, is still the only African American to earn this degree from UVA. He is the coordinator of the Communications, Media Arts and Theatre division at Chicago State University and is completing work on his first textbook, with his wife Erne Davis Reese, called “ Artistry With Diversity” for Allyn, Bacon and Longman publishers of Boston . Professor Reese is known throughout the United States and abroad for his technical prowess in the theater realm. He has set the mood for the past 20 years as Technical Director for the National Black Theater Festival held every two years in Winston-Salem , NC . He has designed sets and lighting for Maya Angelou, John Amos, Samuel L. Jackson, the Negro Ensemble Co. and over a thousand other productions from Broadway to Off- Broadway, television and film. Reese was also the technical director for the Laguardia High School of Performing Arts in New York (Fame). His dance credits include The Alvin Ailey Dance Co. , Dance Theater of Harlem as well as the world premier of Eleo Pomare's, "Horses." Reese has done technical work for many stars including Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, Pattie Labelle, Debbie Allen, Oprah, Billy Eckstine, Nancy Wilson, Queen Latifah, Malcolm Jamal
Warner and Denzel Washington, to name a very few. One of the most meaningful highlights in Reese’s career came when he was presented at court to Prince Phillip of England in recognition of his outstanding work with young people. Reese thanks God for the opportunity to work and he really misses Larry Leon. Peace.
Kathryn Mobley (special projects)
Corey F. Scott (special projects)
Larenté Leon Hamlin
(Web Master/Graphics Dept.)
(Web Master/Graphics Dept.)
Gwendolyn Pryor
(office assistant)
(office assistant)
