African American Theatre Parts played by white actors in black face Rare to see black actors until late 19th century Menstrual Shows Depicted black people with sentimental skits and songs Usually involved jigs shuffle dance and tap Black actors immerged in the shows after the civil war Struggle between traditional and modernized groups Only outlet for African american performers The African Company NYC 1820 James Hewlett Began in an apartment called The African Grove Noted for all black Shakespearean plays Forced to disband in 1827 due to attacks from white audience members First all black show A Trip to Coon Town Bob Cole and William Johnson Full African American company Immergence of the Harlem Renaissance 1918 thru 1920 s and fading during the Great Depression Explosion of new artists and new work being created Shuffle Along musical Music by Sissle and Blake Book by Miller and Lyles Creation of Playwright contests winners would be published in order to Federal Theater Project government plan to get people back into work promote black artists during the Great Depression 1950 s 1960 s A Raisin in the Sun Hansberry 1959 Directed on Broadway by Lloyd Richards First African American credited with director on Broadway Became head of theater at Yale Theater became a tool for bringing African American problems to the public s eye which was key in the Civil Rights Movement 1960 s The Decade of Revolutionary Black Theater Amiri Baraka Slave The Dutchmen Wrote violent plays Not written in realistic manner especially after the death of Malcom X Founded Black Arts Repertory Theater School in Harlem Adrian Kennedy Provacotive style Created dream worlds used imagery symbols and metaphors to explore the distinctions between black and white identities Funny House of a Negro 1962 Shange Because of her upbringing she was able to explore theater 4 Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enough 1976 Often collaborated with others 21 st Century Susan Lorie Parks Feminist movement Top Dog Under Dog JTG G Red Deer Dress Los Candidos