Theatre Studies Alumni Brought The Healers to NY Theatre Festival

Theatre Studies alumni Camille Rhoden and Latrell Lèondre Wagner recently led the original production The Healers as part of the New York Theatre Festival, presenting a powerful and imaginative work rooted in Black history, artistry, and social justice. Written by Wagner and directed by Khamille Blackman, also a Montclair State University alumna, explored artistry, community, and social justice through a speculative reimagining of the Harlem Renaissance.

Set during one of the most influential cultural movements in American history, The Healers followed a secret society of Black artists whose creative practices were imbued with extraordinary powers. Within the world of the play, painters altered reality, musicians healed through sound, sculptors reshaped space, and poets influenced minds, using art not only as expression, but as survival and resistance. The production centered prolific Black figures of the Harlem Renaissance while drawing clear connections to contemporary struggles and the enduring role of artists as healers.

The project marked the second collaboration between Wagner and Blackman, following their 2023 production of REFLECTIONS at Montclair State University. With The Healers, the alumni continued to build a shared artistic vision rooted in history, imagination, and advocacy, while demonstrating the lasting impact of our graduates on professional stages beyond campus.