Gossett Academy of Dramatic Arts

The Gossett Academy of Dramatic Arts was founded by Louis Gossett Jr. and David Langston Smyr.^[1] In 1966,^[2] Gossett received $13,500 in funding from the Federal Office of Economic Opportunity,^[3] as part of the Harlem Youth Act,^[1] to run a ten-week theater program.^[3] Gossett had previously run a school at St. Mark's Playhouse until 1965 when they outgrew the space.^[4]

Gossett and Smyr hired teachers and rented a floor at 11 East 17th Street and named their school Gossett Academy of Dramatic Arts (GADA).^[1] The school opened 7 February 1966^[5] and put out a call for scripts and directors.^[6]

Teachers who joined the school included James Earl Jones, Paul Sorvino, Richard Pryor,^[1] Loften Mitchell,^[3] and Ernie McClintock.^[7] McClintock took over running GADA for one year while Gossett was busy with other projects.^[1] Students included members of The Last Poets,^[1] and Jan Ackerman.^[8]

The school was targeted towards people aged between 14 and 19 years old.^[3] GADA provided classes for dancing, fencing, make-up, modelling, music, playwriting, and stage design.^[9][4] In August 1966, GADA received $17,500 funding from the Office of Economic Opportunity to run a 12-week program for 45 underprivellidged youths.^[10][11] The summer program ended with a series of performances by the students and was considered a success. Additional funding to expand the program for 250 youths across New York was being considered at the time.^[12]

GADA was open for two years, but funding was cut when the Nixon administration came in.^[1] These budget cuts forced the school to close,^[13] however Gossett and several of his students became part of the Negro Ensemble Company.^[14]