SUNO honors Anthony Bean’s service to black community theater
The Center for African and African American Studies at Southern University at New Orleans honored Anthony Bean with its annual Living Legend Award Celebration on Jan. 17.
Bean, founder and executive director of the Anthony Bean Community Theater and Acting School, was selected for his 20 years of service to black community theater and arts education. He has worked in theater for 46 years, and the Living Legend Award celebration featured his fellow teachers and students as speakers and performers, before he gave a keynote address.
Actor Jeremiah Craft, who starred in Marvel’s Luke Cage series after studying under Bean, said the ceremony was fantastic.
“So many people in that room, including a titan New Orleans actor like Wendell Pierce, can cite Anthony Bean as their sensei,” Craft said. “ABCT is the heart of theater at the intersection of people of color, and the city, state and it’s citizens recognize it.”
Stephen Burke taught voice lessons, piano and led musical directions for Anthony Bean Community Theater for about 10 years.
“He needs it because he’s been one of the main black directors in the city that promotes authentic stories that nobody else is talking about right now as far as mental health and family health,” Burke said.
Rene Herbert, a classmate of Bean’s from Andrew J. Bell School, called the actor-director-producer “a genius.” They have known each other for so long that he recalls Bean performing in Herbert’s mother’s living room in the Lafitte housing project.
“We used to sit in the back of the class and write scripts,” Herbert said. “He wrote a play at Bell School called Operation Freedom Movement.”
Bean was modest about abilities. “I can talk about all the knowledge that I know and how brilliant I am, but it’ll all be a lie,” he said.
The Living Legend Award is presented to a grassroots member of the New Orleans African American community for exemplary and lifelong service. The award focuses on education, youth development, community activism, community-based health and wellness, cultural enrichment and small-business development.
In receiving the Living Legend Award Celebration, he cited the work with his brother, teachers, and students as key points he’s proud of. He gave thanks to SUNO, the entire Center for African and African American Studies and his assistant, Elise Felix, who had surprised Bean by getting his former ABCT students to celebrate with him.
“They came from around the country, and I want to thank them as well, you always meant so much to me.”
