Harvey Lichtenstein facts for kids

Harvey Lichtenstein (born April 9, 1929 – died February 11, 2017) was an American arts leader. He is famous for leading the Brooklyn Academy of Music, or BAM, for 32 years (1967–1999). Under his guidance, BAM became a very important place for modern performances. He started the Next Wave Festival. He also made BAM a key spot for dance, theater, music, and new types of shows. Many famous artists performed at BAM because of him. These include Laurie Anderson, Pina Bausch, Peter Brook, Merce Cunningham, Philip Glass, Meredith Monk, Jerzy Grotowski, Mark Morris, Steve Reich, Twyla Tharp, and Robert Wilson. When Lichtenstein retired, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation honored him. They named the BAM Harvey Theater after him.

Early Life and Love for Dance

Harvey Lichtenstein was born in Brooklyn, New York, on April 9, 1929. His parents were Jennie and Samuel Lichtenstein. His father was a Polish immigrant. His mother was from Ukraine. Harvey went to public schools. He graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School and Brooklyn College.

While in college, he saw his first modern dance show. A friend who worked at a Martha Graham concert invited him. This show made him want to study dance. He spent time at Bennington College, Black Mountain College, and the American Dance Festival. He danced in several New York companies. He performed with Sophie Maslow and Pearl Lang. He also danced for a year in the New York City Opera's ballet group. Later, he needed a different job to support his family. So, he started working in fundraising. He worked for both New York City Ballet and the New York City Opera.

Leading the Brooklyn Academy of Music

In 1967, Harvey Lichtenstein was asked to lead the Brooklyn Academy of Music. BAM was founded in 1861. It had a long history. But it was going through a tough time. The area around it was struggling financially. The theater was often empty. It was seen as less important than theaters in Manhattan. People told Lichtenstein not to take the job. But he thought, "Nobody else is offering me a theater to run." He really wanted to try.

Lichtenstein decided to make BAM exciting again. He brought in new and daring shows. These were performances you couldn't see anywhere else. He loved modern dance. So, he booked Merce Cunningham for eight shows. This was a big deal for modern dance. After that, he held a Festival of Dance. It featured 11 top choreographers. This included Martha Graham, Paul Taylor, Alvin Ailey, José Limón, Erick Hawkins, and a young Twyla Tharp. The New York Times said, "For the first time in history, modern dance will have a full season of performances."

During his time, DanceAfrica also began. This is a yearly week-long event. It celebrates the dance, music, art, film, and culture of the African Continent and its people around the world. Lichtenstein also supported new and exciting theater. He worked with Peter Brook and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

The Next Wave Festival

Lichtenstein's interest in modern performances grew. He started the Next Wave Series in 1981. This became the big Next Wave Festival in 1983. Next Wave shows were often very creative. They used images and didn't always follow a straight story. Artists from different fields often worked together. These included visual artists, dancers, musicians, and theater directors. Artists in the Next Wave often didn't get to work on such big projects in the U.S.

Many artists became closely linked with BAM. Their shows became famous there. Examples include Peter Brook's The Mahabharata and Philip Glass and Robert Wilson's Einstein on the Beach. BAM often kept working with these artists. Since the festival started, BAM has hosted nine shows by Robert Lepage. It has also hosted 12 by Pina Bausch's Tanztheater Wuppertal. This group performs only at BAM in New York. In 1997, The New York Times said the Next Wave Festival was "the foremost showcase for contemporary experimental performance in the United States."

The Next Wave shows happened in the fall. There was also a strong spring season. This featured New York artists and major international groups. These shows showed BAM's global connections. They included opera, like William Christie's French Baroque company Les Arts Florissants. They also included theater by famous British groups. These were the Royal Shakespeare Company, Young Vic, Donmar Warehouse, Propeller, and Cheek by Jowl. These groups often put new spins on classic plays.

Building a Cultural Hub in Brooklyn

Harvey Lichtenstein helped make BAM better. He also greatly helped the neighborhood around it. Under his leadership, BAM got another building. It was an old, unused theater. It was first called the BAM Majestic. Later, when Lichtenstein retired in 1999, it was named the BAM Harvey Theater.

Lichtenstein dreamed of bringing more arts groups to the area. He wanted to create a cultural district. BAM would be at its center. After he retired from leading BAM, he worked on this dream. He joined the BAM Local Development Corporation. This group is now part of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership. Its goal was to create a lively arts area in downtown Brooklyn. His dream came true. New buildings were built, like the Mark Morris Dance Center. Also, the Theatre for a New Audience's Polonsky Shakespeare Center and the BAM Fisher Building were added. Now, Fort Greene is known as a vibrant arts destination.