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The play James Brown's King Shotaway was the first known play produced by a Black American, however, no known copies of this play exists. William Henry Brown wrote the play, it was produced by the African Company, and put on at the African Grove Theatre in NYC. This play was based on the life of a Garifuna chief, Joseph Chatoyer, who led a revolt of Black Carib people vs. British rule in 1795. The play is set on the island St. Vincent. (Britannica)
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In 1910, African-American Bert Williams played in the show Ziegfeld Follies on Broadway. He was the first African American to act in a Broadway production. In order to draw attention from both a black and white audience, he made his character appealing to both and would sometimes wear blackface makeup. Although he was an actor just like the white people, he wasn't allowed to go on tour with the cast when they went south to perform. (Playbill)
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The Harlem Renaissance was a major breakthrough for black theatre in the 1920's and 1930's. Black theatre companies started to make an appearance in NYC, Chicago and Washington D.C. In 1935, the Federal Theatre Project was founded providing training and opportunities to black Americans, and eventually leading to other black companies being founded such as the American Negro Theatre and Negro Playwrights' Company. (Britannica)
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Shuffle Along was the first Broadway show with a fully black cast, playwright and producer. This musical instantly became a big hit, showing 484 times on Broadway. This play was a breakthrough for African American theater, black and white people were going to see it on Broadway. This play is about these two men, one becomes mayor and the other, police of chief. They begin to disagree and have a fight. The other candidate for mayor takes the spot and runs both men out of town. (Duane)
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Lorraine Hansberry wrote the play, A Raisin in the Sun, and it debuted on Broadway in 1959. The message of this play is "The desire for social progress amid the differing opinions on how to achieve it." The Younger's, a black family try buying a house in an all-white neighborhood, but receive backlash from the white community. This family is trying to make a better life for themselves while dealing with racism and not being accepted simply because of the color of their skin. (Brockett, 230-231)
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The Black Theatre Movement took place during the 1960's, and it is described as, "Artistic and dramatic movement that included drama which, initially, was concerned with the consciousness and identity of black Americans." This movement was a huge step in gaining black power and civil rights. During this time, many black playwrights would separate themselves from traditional theatre, and put on their own all-black productions. (Maity)
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For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide, also known as When the Rainbow is Enuf, is a musical produced in 1976 by Ntozake Shange. This play tells the stories of seven women of color who have suffered oppression while dealing with a racist and sexist society. It shows the journey of how they overcome these struggles and learn to accept themselves, despite what other people think. Each one of these women has their own story and life, but similar hardships. (Shange)
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Fences is a play produced in 1983 by August Wilson. This play is set in 1957, about a guy in his 50's that struggles with issues from his childhood. He left home at 14, was in and out of prison for years, and married a girl with a child. The play shows his experiences as an African American man trying to make a life for himself, despite racism and other problems. Fences has won multiple Tony Awards for different categories. (American Theatre Wing)
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Wole Soyinka was a Nigerian Playwright. He wrote a total of 7 plays throughout his career, the two most popular being Death and the King's Horseman, and The Lion and the Jewel. He was the first African American to win the Noble Prize in Literature in 1986. Shortly after he won this award, he made the decision to give up play writing to focus on being a human rights and African American rights activist. (Nobel Prize)
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This play was written by Jeremy O. Harris. It debuted on December 9, 2018 at the New York Theatre Workshop. The play addresses racism, sexuality, trauma and interracial relationships. Vox explains the plot as, "Role-playing white-black, master-slave relationships as a way to make sense of how their racial identities factor into their sex and personal lives." It is a very controversial play and raises lots of questions. (Frank)