In 1963, the late Rufus DeWitt and Dr. Robert Matthews founded the Southeast
Community Theatre (SECT), with the assistance of several other committed and
civic-minded individuals, including charter members Peggy Anzer, Gloria Knight,
Milton Knight, James and Bernice Reed, John Johnson, Dr. Jack Kimbrough, Laura
Smith, and Luther Goodwin.
The theatre began to produce plays and was chartered as a non-profit arts and
cultural organization on May 8, 1964. It filled the need to develop the artistic talents
of young African Americans and soon became San Diego’s premier African
American theatre, with several productions directed by Mrs. Gloria Knight.