Mission
Jersey City Theater Center’s (JCTC) mission is to foster inclusive dialogue through the arts, uniting diverse communities and people locally and globally.
JCTC’s vision is to build bridges among diverse local and global communities through the arts.
Co-founded by Executive Producer Olga Levina, an immigrant from Belarus, Jersey City Theater Center (JCTC) produces and presents universal yet locally relevant works, emphasizing social justice and human rights.
Since 2006, JCTC has provided a platform for all artistic voices to be heard. When we share stories through the arts, we spark meaningful dialogue that leads to greater understanding and respect. And, as a result, we build better communities together.
Our core programs include Voices International Theatre Festival, Stories of Greenville, as well as original works. JCTC also provides youth arts education, artist support, and community outreach. In 2021, over 9,100 engaged with JCTC programs and we worked with over 400 artists.
Jersey City Theater Center is a non-profit organization exempt from federal tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (EIN# 20-5151520).
JCTC's Philosophy and History
Our founders, Olga Levina, Ben LoPiccolo and Jorge Cocheiro established the company in 2006 to provide all diverse voices the opportunity to share their stories, connect and engage through the arts, and, by doing so, build bridges among cultures and all people. JCTC began by producing Luis Santeiro’s historical play, “Land of Fire.” The production offered a unique perspective, sharing the life experiences of Native people and the challenges posed by the influence of a dominant “super” culture. The production set the stage for JCTC’s commitment to exploring social justice themes through various artistic mediums. When casting “Land of Fire,” the team ensured that every actor represented a different culture. Building on the success of “Land of Fire,” JCTC embarked on a journey to explore social justice topics, and the arts programming was divided into three thematic series every year. JCTC has explored social justice themes through the arts, fostering a dialogue on justice, happiness, origins, vanity, borderlessness, disruption, and others, inviting different communities to the conversations before and after events, exhibits, and productions. Artists were creating work specifically to address these important topics. These thematic series became a hallmark of JCTC’s work and helped JCTC engage artists and the community in important conversations.
Since then, JCTC has produced and presented theatre, dance, film, new play readings, multimedia works, and arts education programs under the umbrella of thematic series. Some of JCTC’s theatre original productions include Lia Romeo’s “American Dreamers,” “Decline and Fall” by D. Weinstein, “Prologue” by Maria Litvan, “The Last Match” by Jason Huza (11 Broadway World Awards, 2022), “Subprime” by Beck Lee, “She Gon’ Learn” by Lisa Strum, “SELL ME: I am from North Korea” by Sora Baek, and “Trojan Women” by Euripides, to mention a few. JCTC has presented notable theatre, dance, and world music companies, such as the renowned Bedlam, Carolyn Dorfman Dance, Nai-Ni Chen Dance, Pony Box Dance Theatre, Heidi Latsky Dance (JCTC Residency), Taylor Mac, and world music ensembles like Heart of Afghanistan (Afghanistan), DakhaBrakha (Ukraine) and Riu Rhythm (Indonesia), to mention a few.
In 2017, JCTC’s founders restored and reopened the historical venue, White Eagle Hall. JCTC can host some events at the 350-seat venue. In 2018, JCTC started Voices, NJ International Theatre Festival, hosting international dance, music, and theatre companies yearly from Italy, Spain, France, Ukraine, Philippines, South Korea, Armenia, Poland, etc. In 2026 the festival was funded by NJEDA ART – Phase II Program.
In 2018, JCTC was invited to join the Greenville Community Partnership as the first arts organization in NJ State to partner with African-American community leaders under the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Project (NRTC). In the heart of Greenville, a predominantly African-American and Latino neighborhood that has weathered disinvestment, crime, and systemic disparities, the Greenville Community Partnership (GCP) has taken a stance for comprehensive change. Supported by essential funding from the state’s NRTC Program, JCTC joined hands as the inaugural arts partner in 2018, birthing the transformative project Stories of Greenville working with our I Love Greenville partners.
JCTC’s Executive Producer Olga Levina says: “If we genuinely care about the future of the world and our industry, we must connect with diverse communities. We need to convey that we are present, ready to listen, and eager to help tell stories from different perspectives, accepting people as they authentically are.” We believe that artistic excellence should not be confined to a single mold of understanding of excellence but should encompass a rich tapestry of stories, artistic styles, and voices representative of diverse communities. JCTC’s proactive approach involves engaging with and learning from these communities, recognizing the inherent value of cultural diversity in shaping the future of the theatre and performing arts field. This involves fostering artistic innovation by encouraging artists to share their stories through the diverse artistic mediums and unique styles, creating meaningful cultural dialogue and exchange.This proactive stance aligns with JCTC’s goal of creating a theatre environment and experiences that reflect diverse stories and are adaptable and responsive to the needs and aspirations of the communities and people JCTC serves.