Title: The first Black actors on the great white way /
Authors: Curtis, Susan, 1956-
Publisher: University of Missouri Press,
Year: 1998
Subjects: African American theater New York (State) New York History; African American actors United States Biography.; African American actors Biography
Abstract: On April 5, 1917, Three Plays for a Negro Theater by Ridgely Torrence opened at the Garden Theatre in New York City. This performance was a monumental event in American stage history. Not only was this the first dramatic production to portray African American life beyond the cliche, it was also the first production on Broadway to feature an all-black cast. The morning after the three plays were performed, newspapers were filled with praise for the cast, crew, and playwright. Despite such early critical acclaim, Three Plays for a Negro Theater closed before the end of the month and received little attention thereafter.