L. Earl Ford, Ed.D.
President and Founder
Les Ford developed a great love for the Performing Arts early on in life. As a young boy growing up in the rural South, he had numerous chances to follow his intersts in the Arts. His family embraced the Arts as desirable and practical and this was a comfort to Les. His older sister wrote bible-based plays that the family performed throughout their community. These plays gave Les occasions to whet his appetite for the stage and were instrumental in the forming of his career path. After high school He migrated to NYC and pursued professional training in the Arts. He entered Brooklyn College School of Drama and completed his BA and Masters in Theatre. From the early 80’s through most of the 90’s He worked as an actor and playwright, however, the experience was not intellectually and psychologically fulfilling. Les was sadden by the degraded nature of the arts in public schools and the paucity of opportunities artists of color had to cultivate their careers.
He changed his life course as an artist, completed his doctorate in education in 1997, and formed NIA Theatrical Production Company and begin operations in 1998. The company facilitates his ideas for improving opportunities to achieve three basic things: (a) combine theatre arts techniques and educational theories to develop arts-based programs, which would improve the educational environment in public schools, (b) create theatre for the future by procuring to emerging artists opportunities to jump start their careers and (c) bring exciting and culturally affirming theatrical events to underserved communities. Dr. Ford recruits artists friends with whom he has worked with in the past, and with this group fashions the operational procedures and mission for the company.
Since it's inception, the company has procured to over twenty school systems arts-in-education programs for students and teachers. Furthermore, during this time, Dr. Ford worked as a consultant with the NYC Department of Education office of Arts Education. His three-year tenure as theatre specialist allowed him to develop performing arts curricula for school systems and facilitate professional development seminars for teachers and principals. The company’s programmatic activities where situated in Brownsville Brooklyn, one of NYC’s most under-served communities. Moreover, in 2002, through the auspices of the NYC Board of Education, Dr. Ford brought together a team of educators and performing artists to create a performing arts school. His team competed to receive certification to establish the school. The school designed won the competition and was awarded certification. The Performing Arts and Technology High School, had its inaugural year September 2004, in Brownsville Brooklyn, NY.
In 2000, Dr. Ford introduced the company’s play production program by producing free plays in parks, at community centers and other venues around Brooklyn’s under-served communities. Initially the company mainly produced plays written by its core members, but soon began recruiting playwrights to submit scripts for development. The company has since produed two main stage shows each year. More than 15 playwrights and hundreds of actors and technical theatre professionals have found work and received exposure through the company’s play production program.
Dr.Ford seeks to give emerging artists assisance to perfect their craft and then bring their renderings to the community.The expeience with productions will positvely impact the outlook of partcipating artists and give to the masses quality theatre. With his leadership the company’s AIE programs continues to thrive and nuture school-aged children. Through his efforts young artists become future performers as well as theatergoers. These achievements help establish and sustain a vibrant theatre movement in the under-served areas of New York City.
