Overview

African American Theater is a vibrant and unique entity enriched by ancient Egyptian rituals, West African folklore, and European theatrical practices. A continuum of African folk traditions, it combines storytelling, mythology, rituals, music, song, and dance with ancestor worship from ancient times to the present. It afforded black artists a cultural gold mine to celebrate what it was like to be an African American in The New World. The Historical Dictionary of African American Theater celebrates nearly 200 years of black theater in the United States, identifying representative African American theater-producing organizations and chronicling their contributions to the field from its birth in 1816 to the present. This is done through a chronology, an introductory essay, a bibliography, and over 500 cross-referenced dictionary entries on actors, directors, playwrights, plays, theater producing organizations, themes, locations, and theater movements and awards.

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9780810855342

Table of Contents

Reviews

This useful reference work contributes information not found elsewhere. Academic libraries with theater departments and large public libraries will want to purchase it. Booklist, March 2009 Much-needed and appreciated. ... An excellent historical overview of black theater. ... This reference work will be a boon to social and theater historians, libraries, teachers, students, directors, critics, and dramaturges, as well as the casual lover of all theater and theater history. American Reference Books Annual Flip through this chunky, 500-plus-page volume compiled by two Seattle natives, and you'll find so much more on the subject at hand--from the stage credits of other black movie stars to the efforts of pre-Civil War African Americans to integrate our nation's theatrical life. ... Along with an introductory essay and a timeline, the volume contains some 600 entries devoted to performers, playwrights, directors, designers, composers, companies and others engaged in black theater in the U.S. from the early 1800s to the present day. The Seattle Times, August 2009 This welcome volume by respected theater historians and practioners Hill (Ohio State Univ.) and Barnett (founder, Black Arts/West) is an essential Who's Who of African American theater. A pleasant feature of this resource is that it represents more than 200 years of black theater. This dictionary updates many similar resources that are several decades old. It is a must-have book for theater historians and all public and college libraries. Highly recommended. Choice, November 2009 Evidence of meticulous research; the authors have clearly done their homework. The Dictionary bridges the divide between academe, community and professional theatre. To visibly display information on the Negro Ensemble Company in the same volume as the Seattle Negro Repertory Theatre, Black Arts/West and Karamu Performing Arts Theatre- while at the same time describing the respective journeys of actors like Greg Morris, Sara Oliver Jackson, Ron O'Neal, Robert Hooks and Academy Award-winner Denzel Washington- should fulfill any fact-hungry reader's dream. February, 2010 The Hill/Barnett Dictionary has several helpful features... A wealth of data... This dictionary is a splendid piece of work and it belongs in every university and college library... Each time we pick up the Historical Dictionary of African American Theatre, it offers us a magical moment. -- James V. Hatch African American Review

This useful reference work contributes information not found elsewhere. Academic libraries with theater departments and large public libraries will want to purchase it. Booklist Much-needed and appreciated. ... An excellent historical overview of black theater. ... This reference work will be a boon to social and theater historians, libraries, teachers, students, directors, critics, and dramaturges, as well as the casual lover of all theater and theater history. American Reference Books Annual (ARBA) Flip through this chunky, 500-plus-page volume compiled by two Seattle natives, and you'll find so much more on the subject at hand-from the stage credits of other black movie stars to the efforts of pre-Civil War African Americans to integrate our nation's theatrical life. ... Along with an introductory essay and a timeline, the volume contains some 600 entries devoted to performers, playwrights, directors, designers, composers, companies and others engaged in black theater in the U.S. from the early 1800s to the present day. The Seattle Times This welcome volume by respected theater historians and practioners Hill (Ohio State Univ.) and Barnett (founder, Black Arts/West) is an essential Who's Who of African American theater. A pleasant feature of this resource is that it represents more than 200 years of black theater. This dictionary updates many similar resources that are several decades old. It is a must-have book for theater historians and all public and college libraries. Highly recommended. CHOICE Evidence of meticulous research; the authors have clearly done their homework. The Dictionary bridges the divide between academe, community and professional theatre. To visibly display information on the Negro Ensemble Company in the same volume as the Seattle Negro Repertory Theatre, Black Arts/West and Karamu Performing Arts Theatre- while at the same time describing the respective journeys of actors like Greg Morris, Sara Oliver Jackson, Ron O'Neal, Robert Hooks and Academy Award-winner Denzel Washington- should fulfill any fact-hungry reader's dream. American Theatre The Hill/Barnett Dictionary has several helpful features... A wealth of data... This dictionary is a splendid piece of work and it belongs in every university and college library... Each time we pick up the Historical Dictionary of African American Theatre, it offers us a magical moment. African American Review

The Hill/Barnett Dictionary has several helpful features.... A wealth of data.... This dictionary is a splendid piece of work and it belongs in every university and college library.... Each time we pick up the Historical Dictionary of African American Theatre, it offers us a magical moment.--James V. Hatch African American Review

Author Information

Anthony D. Hill is director, administrator, and associate professor of drama at The Ohio State University. Douglas Q. Barnett is a writer, play director, producer, and founder of Black Arts/West in Seattle, Washington.

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