Collaborative Foundations: Robert Hartwell on Crafting an Authentic Legacy in Breaking New Ground

By Patrick Dimond

Robert Hartwell (he/him) is the host and executive producer of Breaking New Ground, streaming on MAX. The six-episode series chronicles his journey renovating an 1820 historic home with a complex history. Founder of The Broadway Collective, Robert trains future Broadway stars with a 97% college acceptance rate. He’s performed in five Broadway shows and stars in Pharrell and Jay-Z's Entrepreneur. A director and choreographer, Robert's work has been featured at Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center.

PD: You've had an incredibly diverse and successful career in theater as both a performer and an educator. What inspired you to pivot into home renovation and design?

RH: Oh my gosh, it's kind of a full-circle story. I've always been inspired by home transformation. It started when I was a kid. My mom, a single mom, had a very limited income, but she was adamant that our home should inspire us. Our rooms were always colorful and spoke to my brother’s and my personalities. She’d teach me how to transform spaces with simple things—like buying fabric on sale and adding trim to thrifted curtains. We made the spaces reflect our dreams. I always knew I wanted to be on Broadway, and so we created these spaces that felt like a theater.

Fast forward to the pandemic. I needed a sanctuary—a place where I, as a Black man in America, could feel safe and away from the chaos of the city. I was always interested in room transformations, even while decorating Broadway dressing rooms. The idea of buying a 200-year-old home and turning it into a TV show was never part of the plan, but here we are.

Robert outside of Hartwell House before renovation began. Photography by Danielle Cohen.

I love that it’s an incremental story, starting small and snowballing into something bigger. You’ve referred to purchasing your Great Barrington home as a "generational move." Can you elaborate on that, especially in terms of heritage and legacy?

It’s about looking back to move forward. I’ve always been obsessed with history, and I definitely got that from my dad, who's a historian. He’s shown me the strength of our ancestors. My grandfather was one of the first Black men in East Hampton to own a business, and his father’s father was born a slave in Virginia. When I think about this home being a generational move, it’s not about me; it’s about future generations. I want my children and their children to look back and draw strength from this. They need to know they can get through tough times because we’ve done it before. I hope the home and its story will inspire them to push forward.

I love that. It's a legacy of strength. You’ve also inspired people to think about homeownership as stewardship. Do you plan to continue reviving old homes? What do you hope these spaces will mean for future generations?

Funny you ask. I just hit the one-year mark of finishing the renovation, and at Thanksgiving, my mom asked me, “Would you do it again?” And I said, “I would never say no.” The next project I’m considering is buying a historic inn in town and renovating that with my best friend. While my home in Great Barrington is now widely recognized, I want to create a space where the community can gather and build something new. This inn would be that place.

“Design all comes down to storytelling. In theater, it’s about creating an environment that tells a story. At home, it’s about the story you want to live in.”

— Robert Hartwell

Oh my God, that sounds amazing. I used to work at a design firm in Sharon, CT, and I know a bit about the area. I’d be the first one there.

Please come! I’ll make sure you’re first on the list.

Renovating a home can be deeply personal. Were there any unexpected discoveries about yourself during the process?

I didn't realize how resilient I could be. I’ve always considered myself resilient as an entrepreneur, but I didn’t know how calm I could stay during a storm. This renovation had its fair share of delays and costs,

and people would ask, "How haven't you broken yet?" But breaking wasn’t an option for me. I just had to adapt and be flexible with the ebbs and flows of the process. It required a lot of patience, and I surprised myself with how well I handled it.

It was inspiring to see you embrace learning moments during the process despite having so many other efforts going on in your life. It seems like that mindset informs your work in other creative spaces, too. How has your theater background influenced your approach to design?

It all comes down to storytelling. In theater, it’s about creating an environment that tells a story. At home, it’s about the story you want to live in. For example, there are rooms in my house where I feel completely at home, like my study or dance studio. But I haven’t quite found peace in the living room yet. It’s the room that holds space for family and a partner, but I’m currently single, so I’m just now leaning into inhabiting that part of the story. So, designing my home is like creating different scenes that I will grow into over time.

That’s such a beautiful way to describe it. Homeownership carries a lot of symbolic value, especially for Black Americans. How does this influence your design decisions and the vision for your projects?

It’s about being unapologetic—unapologetic in color and art choices. I want anyone who steps into my home to immediately know that a Black, gay man lives here. That’s revolutionary. I want the design to serve as an inspiration for my students, too. It shows them the power of being authentic and how they can express themselves in their own spaces.

“I used to think of home as just a place to sleep and recharge before heading out into the world. But now, living here, I realize that home actually holds you.”

— Robert Hartwell

You really can tell when someone is expressing themselves authentically through their home. It's such a powerful form of identity. Who are some design icons or emerging voices whose work inspires you these days?

Lena Waithe. She’s an absolute trailblazer, not just in design but in bringing diverse voices into the conversation. She elevates young voices, as well as people on the margins—like trans people or Hollywood figures over 60. I love her new podcast series, Legacy Talks. She brings people into intimate spaces and discusses what matters most to them: their homes. It’s deeply inspiring, and her impact on culture and legacy is something I admire greatly.

What was your collaboration like with the interior designer Courtney McCloud?

Our collaboration was love at first sight. My first meeting with Courtney McCloud lasted from 3 PM until 2 AM because we couldn’t stop talking. She’s an expert, and I was able to trust my intuition while learning so much from her. For example, in Paulette’s parlor, she presented this chandelier called the Elizabeth Chandelier, which is my mom’s name. It was so serendipitous, but I didn’t like it. It felt too dainty. I wanted something more substantial. Courtney supported my vision, and we ended up with something that felt more aligned with my style.

Dancing inside of Paulette’s Parlor before renovation began. Photography by Danielle Cohen.

A good designer knows how to listen and find solutions, which sounds exactly what you and Courtney did.

Exactly! She was the perfect partner in this and a genius at what she does. She pushed me to go beyond my comfort zone with color, and I really appreciated that.

The concept of home evolves throughout our lives. How has your understanding of home transformed over the course of your journey?

I used to think of home as just a place to sleep and recharge before heading out into the world. But now, living here, I realize that home actually holds you. There are parts of this house that support me on my toughest days and celebrate with me on my best days. Living in New York, I always felt like I was constantly in motion, but here in the Berkshires, I feel like the space itself holds me up. It’s a beautiful experience.

That’s such a meaningful way to look at it. When future generations look back at your work, what do you hope they’ll see?

I hope they see a legacy of service, joy, and curiosity. A legacy that encourages others to live authentically and put themselves out there for the world to see.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.