Welcome to the Nia Network: A Program Bureau, a division of Celeste Bateman & Associates. The program bureau features visual and performing artists, historians, writers and motivational speakers of African descent who present in various venues nationally and internationally. CB&A has compiled a roster of extraordinarily talented individuals who are available to perform and present at colleges and universities, performing arts centers, schools, churches, corporations, festivals, trade shows, etc. What makes this program bureau unique is that all of the participants present topics and art forms pertaining to the African Diaspora.
Nia is the Swahili word for ‘purpose.’ Our purpose is to promulgate what is rich and positive about African, Caribbean, and African-American culture, history, heritage and art. For booking information, email us at info@celestebateman.com or call 973.705.8253.
PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to take on additional artists/speakers at this time, but please feel free to forward your information for future consideration.
Nia is the Swahili word for ‘purpose.’ Our purpose is to promulgate what is rich and positive about African, Caribbean, and African-American culture, history, heritage and art. For booking information, email us at info@celestebateman.com or call 973.705.8253.
PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to take on additional artists/speakers at this time, but please feel free to forward your information for future consideration.
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Jamil A. C. Mangan
Jamil A.C. Mangan is an actor, director, teaching artist and native of Newark, New Jersey. He received a BFA in Theatre Arts from the University of the Arts (UARTS) in Philadelphia. As a youngster, Jamil was a concert chorus member at the Newark Boys Chorus School. While a member, he toured the East Coast, Prague, Czechoslovakia, and performed for former President Bill Clinton’s 1992 Inauguration. Mr. Mangan attended Newark Arts High School, the oldest performing arts high school in the U.S After graduating from Arts High, Jamil studied theatre arts at the University of the Arts (UARTS), the first conservatory for the arts in the U.S. While at UARTS, he performed in several theatre productions including The Colored Museum as Junie, Piano Lesson as Boy Willie, and Mojo as Teddy. Mangan also studied musical theatre at Syracuse University, piano with the late jazz pianist, Duke Anderson, and was a member of the National Speech and Debate Forensics League.
Jamil began his professional acting career in Philadelphia in the role of Orpheus Fisher, Marian Anderson’s love interest in the bio-play My Lord What a Morning. At the C.E.C. Theatre in Philly, Mangan would take on the role of the flirtatious Sista Plenty in the Afro Greek tragedy Monsters by Mia X. Other notable performances include The Greeks at the Manhattan Ensemble Theatre, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and All That Jive at Newark Symphony Hall. Other works include We’ve Got The Victory, and Flat Black. Mr. Mangan recently toured the U.S. in My Soul is a Witness, a play by David Barr, III, and produced by the Jena Company; and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry based on the book by Mildred D. Taylor (Penguin Books, 1976). This production, geared primarily to young audiences, was produced by National Theater for Arts & Education based in Boca Raton, Florida. In Spring 2007, he toured in a production of Romeo and Juliet, in the role of Friar Lawrence. He is currently performing in the ensemble production of The Engagement at the Wings Theater NYC's Greenwich Village (June 2007).
Jamil has performed shadow puppetry for the 30-year running Shadow Box Theatre (Brooklyn), providing entertainment and life skills to young audiences. He made his directing debut at Newark Symphony Hall with the production of Gospel at Colonus. The Star-Ledger critic Peter Filichia said, “Jamil A.C. Mangan staged the show with precision.”
Jamil Mangan has also been seen in the principal role for the Comcast Sportsnet commercial for the NBA 76ers and on The Dave Chappelle Show. Maliki, a film in which Jamil co-stars, was a runner-up submission for Project Green Light on HBO and winner in the Bronx film festival. In the film Music City, Jamil played Jason a street savvy aspiring rap artist battling the streets. Music City was submitted to numerous festivals and is available on video. The independent feature Head Trauma is a psychological thriller in which Mangan co-stars as Julian. Head Trauma premiered at the Tribeca Cinema and is now available on video/dvd at Amazon.com, Blockbuster and at Best Buy. View the trailer at www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2760999/share .
Jamil A.C. Mangan has been a teaching artist for several years working for many arts organizations throughout the tri-state area. He taught acting for film for Big Picture Alliance (Philadelphia), an organization that teaches teens how to produce independent films. Jamil has been a teaching artist for Playwrights of New Jersey teaching playwriting to 5th to 12th graders throughout the state. As a teaching artist for Steve Adubato’s Stand and Deliver, Jamil instructs high school students on the importance of strong communication skills. Other organizations include Restore Kidz, Inc. in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Playwrights of Philadelphia, UARTS summer arts program, and African Globe Theatreworks. Mr. Mangan uses the arts as a vehicle for self-expression, for the exploration of human nature and its significance in our society. Visit his website at myspace.com/OneMil.
Jamil began his professional acting career in Philadelphia in the role of Orpheus Fisher, Marian Anderson’s love interest in the bio-play My Lord What a Morning. At the C.E.C. Theatre in Philly, Mangan would take on the role of the flirtatious Sista Plenty in the Afro Greek tragedy Monsters by Mia X. Other notable performances include The Greeks at the Manhattan Ensemble Theatre, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and All That Jive at Newark Symphony Hall. Other works include We’ve Got The Victory, and Flat Black. Mr. Mangan recently toured the U.S. in My Soul is a Witness, a play by David Barr, III, and produced by the Jena Company; and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry based on the book by Mildred D. Taylor (Penguin Books, 1976). This production, geared primarily to young audiences, was produced by National Theater for Arts & Education based in Boca Raton, Florida. In Spring 2007, he toured in a production of Romeo and Juliet, in the role of Friar Lawrence. He is currently performing in the ensemble production of The Engagement at the Wings Theater NYC's Greenwich Village (June 2007).
Jamil has performed shadow puppetry for the 30-year running Shadow Box Theatre (Brooklyn), providing entertainment and life skills to young audiences. He made his directing debut at Newark Symphony Hall with the production of Gospel at Colonus. The Star-Ledger critic Peter Filichia said, “Jamil A.C. Mangan staged the show with precision.”
Jamil Mangan has also been seen in the principal role for the Comcast Sportsnet commercial for the NBA 76ers and on The Dave Chappelle Show. Maliki, a film in which Jamil co-stars, was a runner-up submission for Project Green Light on HBO and winner in the Bronx film festival. In the film Music City, Jamil played Jason a street savvy aspiring rap artist battling the streets. Music City was submitted to numerous festivals and is available on video. The independent feature Head Trauma is a psychological thriller in which Mangan co-stars as Julian. Head Trauma premiered at the Tribeca Cinema and is now available on video/dvd at Amazon.com, Blockbuster and at Best Buy. View the trailer at www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2760999/share .
Jamil A.C. Mangan has been a teaching artist for several years working for many arts organizations throughout the tri-state area. He taught acting for film for Big Picture Alliance (Philadelphia), an organization that teaches teens how to produce independent films. Jamil has been a teaching artist for Playwrights of New Jersey teaching playwriting to 5th to 12th graders throughout the state. As a teaching artist for Steve Adubato’s Stand and Deliver, Jamil instructs high school students on the importance of strong communication skills. Other organizations include Restore Kidz, Inc. in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Playwrights of Philadelphia, UARTS summer arts program, and African Globe Theatreworks. Mr. Mangan uses the arts as a vehicle for self-expression, for the exploration of human nature and its significance in our society. Visit his website at myspace.com/OneMil.