About Project 1 Voice
History and Mission
Project1VOICE, Inc. (P1V) is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit performing arts service organization based in New York City. Its mission is to support and promote the American theater specifically the narrative of and by people of African descent.
P1V was formed during the economic downturn in 2009 to create awareness and support for the many community-building African American theaters whose doors were closing with no hope of re-opening. P1V’s core activity is the coordination of an international, same-day staged reading series that revives and re-introduces forgotten seminal works by playwrights from the African Diaspora, a critical thread in the tapestry of the American theater. This annual event is called Project1VOICE One Play One Day and takes place on the third Monday in June, each year.
The success of One Play One Day has resulted in full productions—Trouble in Mind by Alice Childress (2011), The Colored Museum by George C. Wolfe (2016) and Yellowman by Dael Orlandersmith (2017)—and other programs in African American and LORT theaters across the nation. Other P1V programs include P1V 2.0—an Online Book Club, P1V Conversations with Pioneers, P1V Workshops–networking and knowledge-building opportunities, and P1V Honors—recognizing contributions in the arts.
P1V has expanded its reach and influence by partnering with nationally and internationally recognized organizations like Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Howard University, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS (NBLCA), Temple University and Theater for Young Audiences/USA (TYA/USA). To date other United States organizations, include League of Resident Theatres (LORT) members, African American theater companies including Billie Holiday Theatre, Ebony Repertory Theatre, Congo Square Theatre and Ensemble Theater Houston as well as, other diverse educational, artistic and social institutions. P1V’s network also includes theater companies in Africa.
Through its robust programs and innovative partnerships, P1V works to provide significant support, accessibility and adequate representation for African American theater, an integral sector of the English-speaking theater.
New Visiters Every Week
Happy customers every year
Won Awards
New Listing Every Week
Aliquam erat volutpat interdum
Get ready to start your exciting journey.
Our agency will lead you through the amazing digital world
Board Members
Erich McMillan-McCall
Executive/Artistic Producer
Erich McMillan-McCall is founder/CEO of Project1VOICE (P1V) Incorporated. From as early as kindergarten creative expression has always been an integral part of his life.
Yvette Jones-Smedley
Treasurer
Yvette Jones-Smedley recently took a position as Director of Cultural Affairs at the City of Montgomery. Previously, she was the Performing Arts Program Manager at Alabama State Council on the Arts.
Gina M. Jackson, M.A., M.Ed.
Gina M. Jackson is an Adjunct Professor and Secondary Educator in San Diego, CA. She is Founder and Executive Artistic Director of Cultural Noire Performing Arts Company.
KB Saine
kb saine is a director, educator, and theatre historian based in west virginia. she has been using theatre as a vehicle for social and racial justice & equity -both on and off stage- for over two decades.
Halle Morse
Halle Morse is a former Broadway actress and management consultant. Having worked on Broadway, Off-Broadway, National Tour, and Regional Theater, credits include Lisa in Mamma Mia, Mimi in Rent, Little Inez in Hairspray, and Eponine in Les Miserables.
Marcia Pendelton
Marcia Pendelton (Marketing Specialist) is the founder and president of Walk Tall Girl Productions, a boutique marketing, audience development and group sales agency for the performing arts with a special emphasis placed on the theater.
k zaheerah sultan
Treasurer
K. Zaheerah Sultan is an arts educator, consultant, youth, arts, and community activist, and a philanthropist. She is the founder and executive director of Mind Your Business Art (M.Y.B.A), a performing arts business consulting agency.
Advisory Board
Patrick A. Bradford
General Counsel
Patrick A. Bradford, New York City, NY, is a practicing attorney specializing in complex commercial litigation. He is a founding partner of Bradford Edwards & Varlack LLP. His practice areas include antitrust, securities, employment, environmental and qui tam (whistleblower) actions. He also handles government and corporate investigations, including international FCPA matters.
Dr. Indira Etwaroo
First Executive Director of the Center for Arts and Culture (CAC)...
In 2003, Dr. Etwaroo took her Fulbright Scholarship to Ethiopia to work with refugee Somali women and children, for which she received the Emerging Doctoral Scholar Award and the Graduate Research Award from the National Congress on Research in Dance.
Wren Brown
Co-Founder/Artistic Director of Ebony Repertory Theater, the first African American professional theater company in Los Angeles history.
As an actor, Mr. Brown has appeared in such films as Waiting To Exhale, Hollywood Shuffle, and Edmond, and on TV in shows like The West Wing, The Practice, Star Trek, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Grey's Anatomy.
Shay Wafer
She/Her/Hers Executive Director WACO Theater Center. Los Angeles, CA
Shay Wafer, has demonstrated a stalwart dedication to the arts and community development through many years of service to the field. Her passionate vision is balanced with pragmatic experience, as she has held senior level positions at a number of non-profit arts organizations with a focus on African Diasporic programming and community engagement.
Anthony Sias
President and CEO of Karamu House
Former director of arts education for the 50,000 strong Cleveland Metropolitan School District (the 2nd largest district in Ohio) and artistic director of the Cleveland School of the Arts, Mr. Sias has both acted in and directed many Karamu productions
Eileen J. Morris
Artistic Director of The Ensemble Theatre, Houston
Ms. Morris has produced over 80 plays, including 4 world premieres, and directed more than 20 productions for The Ensemble Theatre. She co-founded the Young Performer's Program to train 6 to 17 year olds in both art and life skills.
Denise Saunders-Thompson
President and CEO of The International Association of Blacks In Dance.
Denise Saunders Thompson has extensive experience in non-profit and for-profit, established or start-up organizations. She has advised organizations on administrative, programmatic and fundraising issues including strategic plans, policy and procedures, communications programs, budgeting and contracts.