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Black Broadway Theatre History ~ Our Moments and Circumstances
“Black Theater: The Making of a Movement” documents the birth of a new theatre out of the Civil Rights activism of the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s. It is a veritable video encyclopedia of the leading figures, institutions, and events of a movement that transformed the American stage.
Ben Vereen, George Faison, Maurice Hines, and more join “On Stage Across America” to take a look at the history and social significance of African-Americans on Broadway.
New York City
“As the overview explains, Black theatre’s quest for legitimacy began by emulating mainstream American theatrical traditions at the African Grove in New York City in 1821 and in Minstrelsy before it stumbled, lost its way, and then found its own aesthetic.” – BlackPast.org
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Who was the first known Black playwright?
William Wells Brown’s The Escape; or, A Leap for Freedom (1858), was the first Black play published, but the first real success of an African American dramatist was Angelina W. Grimké’s Rachel (1916). Black theatre flourished during the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and ’30s.
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Who opened the first Black theater?
William Alexander Brown
Widely considered the first Black theater in the country, the African Grove Theater got its start when William Alexander Brown, a retired West Indian steamship steward, started hosting poetry readings and short plays for Black New Yorkers in his backyard on Thomas Street, Greenwich Village in 1821. Feb 2, 2022
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Who is the father of Black theater?
Gibson Kente
He produced 23 plays and television dramas between 1963 and 1992. He is also responsible for producing some of South Africa’s leading musicians.
Where did African American drama originate?
The origins of Black theater in America can be traced back to the slave trade and the continuation of African performance traditions. Some of these traditions included the oral telling of folktales, improvisation, songs, and dances like the get down and ring shout.
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Who was the first Black lead on Broadway?
Bert Williams
Florenz Ziegfeld invited Williams to be a headliner in his Follies of 1910, making him the first Black to perform on Broadway as an equal alongside Whites.
When did Black theatre start?
“Loften Mitchell labels the years 1909 to 1917 as the First Harlem Theatre Movement. The first Black Theatre, The Crescent, was established in Harlem.
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Who is the first Black EGOT winner?
Whoopi Goldberg
Within Goldberg’s amazing career she has received two Academy Award nominations, for her contributions in The Color Purple and Ghost, winning for Ghost. Goldberg was also recognized as the first African American to have received Academy Award nominations for both Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. Following the academy award, Goldberg won two Golden Globe for Best Actress (1986) for her contribution in The Color Purple, and Best Supporting Actress in 1991 for Ghost (Ghost also won a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role).Goldberg starring in “Whoopi Goldberg: Direct from Broadway” won a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Recording in 1985. Not only did Whoppi Goldberg win the Grammy but she became only the second solo woman performer at the time to receive the award and the first African-American woman. Only three women performers have ever received the Best Comedy Recording award.
In 1990, Goldberg received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as “Oda Mae Brown” in the hit movie Ghost. In 2002 Whoopi Goldberg won the Tony Award for her contribution as a producer for Thoroughly Modern Millie. Goldberg outdid herself where she was rewarded with eight Daytime Emmy nominations and went home with two. The acting veteran received nine a total of Primetime Emmy nominations. Concluding Goldberg’s long list of awards was her Daytime Emmy Award in 2009, for Outstanding Talk Show Host for her role on The View.
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Black Celebrities with EGOT Status
Viola Davis
John Legend
Whoopi Goldberg
Harry Belafonte
Jennifer Hudson
Quincy Jones
Common
Cynthia Erivo
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The minstrel shows of the early 19th century are believed by some to be the roots of African American theatre, but they initially were written by Whites, acted by Whites in blackface, and performed for White audiences. After the American Civil War, they began to perform in minstrel shows (then called “Ethiopian minstrelsy”), and by the turn of the 20th century, they were producing Black musicals, many of which were written, produced, and acted entirely by Blacks. The first known play by an African American was James Brown’s King Shotaway (1823). William Wells Brown’s The Escape; or, A Leap for Freedom (1858)was the first African American play published, but the first real success of a Black dramatist was Angelina W. Grimké’s Rachel (1916).
African American theatre flourished during the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and ’30s. Experimental groups and Black theatre companies emerged in Chicago, New York City, and Washington, D.C.Among these was the Ethiopian Art Theatre, which established Paul Robeson as America’s foremost Black actor. Garland Anderson’s play Appearances (1925) was the first play of Black authorship to be produced on Broadway, but Black theatre did not create a Broadway hit until Langston Hughes’s Mulatto (1935) won wide acclaim. In that same year, the Federal Theatre Project was founded, providing a training ground for Blacks. In the late 1930s.
The HARLEM Renaissance by Dale Ricardo Shields
- A Raisin In The Sun, Adrienne Warren, Andre De Shields, Anthony Ramos, Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu, Ariana DeBose, Aubrey Lyles, Audra McDonald, AUGUST WILSON, Aziza Barnes, Ben Vereen, Bert Williams, Beverly Jenkins, Billy Porter, Black Theatre Movement, Brandon Victor Dixon, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Camille A. Brown, Charles Gilpin, Charles Gordone, Charlie Smalls, Cheryl L. West, Chuck Cooper, Cicely Tyson, Cleavon Little, Cynthia Erivo, Dale Ricardo Shields, Dale Shields, Daveed Diggs, Day of Absence, Diahann Carroll, Douglas Lyon, Douglas Turner Ward, Drew Shade, DYLAN PARENT, Ephraim Sykes, Eubie Blake, Flournoy Miller, Frank Wilson, Geoffrey Holder, George C. Wolfe, George Faison, Gregory Hines, Harlem Renaissance, Harry Belafonte, Irene Gandy, James Earl Jones, James Hewlett, JANICE SIMPSON, Jean Genet, Jennifer Holliday, Jeremy O. Harris, Jeremy Pope, Joseph Papp, Joshua Henry, Juanita Hall, Keenan Scott II, Ken Harper, Kenny Leon, Langston Hughes, Leslie Odom Jr., Leslie Uggams, Lisa Nocella-Pacino, Lloyd Richards, Lorraine Hansberry, Louis Johnson, Lynn Nottage, Marc J. Franklin, Maurice Hines, Melba Moore, Michael R. Jackon, Micki Grant, Miguel Pinero, New Federal Theatre, Noble Sissle, Ntozake Shange, Paul Green, Paul Robeson, Pearl Bailey, Perry Watkins, Porgy and Bess, Raul Julia, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Richard Wesley, Robert Hooks, Robert Nemiroff, Roger Robinson, Rose McClendon, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Savion Glover, Stew Rodewald, Suzan-Lori Parks, Tarell Alvin McCraney, THE AFRICAN GROVE THEATRE, The American Negro Theatre, The Blacks, THE DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM, The Negro Ensemble Company, The Scottsboro Boys, Tom O'Horgan, uzan-Lori Parks, Vinnette Carroll, Walter Dallas, Woodie King Jr.
iforcolor
ARCHIVIST, EDUCATOR, HISTORIAN, and ARTiST
Dale Ricardo Shields is highly accomplished African American actor, director, producer, and educator with a distinguished career in theatre and academia.
Here's a summary of his background and achievements:
Early Life and Family:
Born on November 4, 1952, in Cleveland, Ohio.
His family has a strong musical background; his grandfather and father were founding members of the Shields Brothers Gospel Quartet of Ohio, and his mother was part of the Turner Gospel Singers.
He is a cousin of boxing promoter Don King.
Education:
Graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in 1970.
Holds both a BFA (1975) and MFA (1995) from Ohio University.
Career and Contributions
Theatre Professional:
Actor: Has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, and in regional productions. His television credits include The Cosby Show, Another World, Guiding Light, Saturday Night Live, and the ITV series Special Needs. He has also appeared in commercials and films.
Director and Stage Manager: Has extensive professional credits in these roles, including projects at Lincoln Center, The Henry Street Settlement House (New Federal Theatre), The Negro Ensemble Company, and The Joseph Papp Public Theatre.
Assistant Director: Served as assistant to Lloyd Richards and assistant director for the New Federal Theatre premiere of Ossie Davis's play A Last Dance With Sybil starring Ruby Dee and Earl Hyman.
Educator:
Professor: He is a Professor of Acting, Directing, Black Theatre, Black Studies, and Stage Management. He has taught at various institutions, including Ohio University, The College of Wooster, Denison University, Macalester College, Susquehanna University (as artist-in-residence), and SUNY Potsdam.
Workshops and Programs: Conducted workshops for Joseph Papp's Playwriting in the Schools Program (PITS) at The Public Theatre for six seasons and represented the United States at the ASSITEJ Theatre Festival in London, England, in 1988.
Artistic Activist and Historian:
Iforcolor.org: Creator and archivist for the Black History website Iforcolor.org, dedicated to preserving and sharing information about African Americans and artists of color. He also maintains the "Black Theatre/African American Voices" website on Facebook.
Project1VOICE Liaison: Serves as the Project1VOICE Liaison for the state of Ohio, directing "One Play One Day" events in Cleveland since 2011.
Awards and Recognition:
The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award: Recipient in 2017.
Paul Robeson Award: Recipient in 2021 (jointly presented by the Actors' Equity Association and Actors' Equity Foundation).
AUDELCO/"VIV" Special Achievement Award: Received in 2017.
Tony Award Nominee: Nominated for the "Excellence in Theatre Education Award" in 2015 and 2017.
Ebony Bobcat Network (EBN) Legend Award: Received from Ohio University in 2022.
ENCORE AWARD / The Actors Fund: Received in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2024.
Outstanding Professor Awards: Has received two of these and three "Educational Program of the Year" awards as a university professor.
The HistoryMakers archives: Interviewed and included in The HistoryMakers archives, permanently housed in the Library of Congress.
Dale Ricardo Shields is recognized for his profound impact on the lives of his students and his unwavering dedication to preserving and promoting Black theatre history and culture.