Online Reporter
Tafadzwa Zimoyo-Zimpapers Entertainment Editor
FOR the next two weeks, Harare will become a little piece of Broadway.
Some of the world’s finest theatre and screen minds have swapped New York for Zimbabwe, bringing with them decades of experience that have shaped productions seen on Broadway, Hollywood, and Netflix.
Award-winning playwright, filmmaker, and screenwriter Stephen Belber, and internationally renowned voice and acting coach Scott Miller, are in the capital to lead exclusive master-classes under Almasi Collaborative Arts, giving Zimbabwean creatives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from industry leaders who have worked at the highest level of global entertainment.
It is not every day that a Broadway playwright walks into a rehearsal room in Harare.
Belber’s plays have been staged on Broadway and in more than 25 countries.
His impressive body of work includes The Laramie Project, Tape, Match, Management, and Law & Order: SVU.
More recently, he created and served as show-runner for Netflix’s acclaimed thriller The Madness, placing him among the most respected storytellers in contemporary theatre and television.
Joining him is Scott Miller, professor at New York University’s renowned Tisch Graduate Acting Programme and creator of the Miller Voice Method, whose coaching has helped Oscar-winning actors, television presenters, Olympic athletes, and business leaders unlock the power of authentic communication.
Their arrival signals more than just another workshop.
It represents a rare cultural exchange where Zimbabwean artists are engaging directly with the people who help shape international theatre and screen productions.
Hosted by Almasi Collaborative Arts, the workshops focus on acting, voice, performance, and writing for stage and screen as part of preparations for the Africa Voices Now! 2026 festival.
Speaking about the initiative, Almasi Associate artistic director Zaza Muchemwa said Zimbabwe already possesses remarkable artistic talent, but continued exposure to world-class mentorship is essential for the industry’s growth.
“Zimbabwe has extraordinary artists, and this programme is about creating the conditions for that talent to grow, compete and lead,” she said.
“By bringing practitioners of Scott Miller and Stephen Belber’s calibre into Zimbabwe, we are creating opportunities for artists to engage international standards while remaining true to their own stories.”
For Zimbabwe’s theatre community, the workshops arrive at a crucial time.
The country’s actors, playwrights, and filmmakers continue earning recognition across Africa and beyond, yet many still lack regular access to internationally acclaimed mentors.
The Harare sessions bridge that gap by creating an environment where ideas flow freely between local creatives and professionals whose work reaches audiences worldwide.
Beyond technique, the workshops also celebrate the power of storytelling.
Participants are being encouraged to embrace authentic Zimbabwean narratives while learning the craft required to make those stories resonate on global stages and streaming platforms.
As Broadway expertise meets Zimbabwean creativity, the collaboration offers more than lessons in performance — it plants seeds for future partnerships, international productions, and cultural exchange.
For a fortnight, the spotlight of Broadway shines brightly in Harare.
And if the knowledge shared inside these rehearsal rooms takes root, Zimbabwe’s next internationally acclaimed play, film or television series may well begin not in New York, but right here at home.
