THEA 1030 1st Edition Lecture 25 African American Theatre 1800s Theatre is populated with the stereotypical black servant Reflects the diversity of the American culture Theatre fosters change social awareness Stereotypical Black Servant This character spoke in a thick dialect wore ill fitting costumes and shuffled around on stage Often performed by a white actor in black face o Burnt cark was applied to the face in order to darken the skin The Minstrel Show Performance style began in the 1830 s First performed by white actors in black face These shows parodied black music and dance Incorporated colorful characters rousing songs and dark comedy Black actors begin performing in these shows after the civil war o This was the only acting outlet for them o This was a way for them to become famous Three Popular Characters 1 Jim Crow a A stereotypical carefree slave 2 Zip Coon a A freed black attempting to put on airs i Acting above his social status 3 Mr Tambo a A joyous musician 1900 s New Social Awareness Important Playwrights I Trouble in Mind a 1956 by Alice Chidress II III b First play written by an African American woman to be produced on broadway A Raisin in the Sun a 1959 by Lorraine Hansberry b Play deals with integration c Black urban family moves to a white neighborhood in order to have a better life d Conflict in the family Dutchman a 1964 by Amiri Baraka b Play deals with the idea of cultural identity through a sexual and verbal showdown between an assimilated black male and a white temptress 1970 s The development of the black audience on broadway The milestone is the result of The Wiz The Wiz 1975 Show wins the Tony Award for best new musical and is celebrated as a spectacle event Introduced the idea of spectacle on stage Very large spectacle production Visual achievement 1980 s August Wilson Black American playwrighter Documents the black experience in America for each decade of the 20 th century Wrote ten plays o Now referred to as The August Wilson Cycle Completed the last play right before he died White father Black mother Born in PA Racism is everywhere Felt disconnected from his family history Knowing where you come from helps you move on to the future Never fit in with white people or black people Dropped out of school Playwright The Piano Lesson Takes place in PA in1936 Characters Doaker Berniece s and Boy Willie s Uncle Boy Willie Berniece s brother Berniece Boy Willie s sister Her husband was Crawley o He was shot Maretha Berniece s daughter Lymon Boy Willie s friend Avery A preacher Wants to marry Berniece Wining Boy Berniece and Boy Willie s other uncle Doaker s brother
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