Early Black American Playwrights and Dramatic Writers: A Biographical Directory and Catalog of Plays, Films, and Broadcasting Scripts

(Hardback)

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This reference volume addresses an often overlooked area in the history of the American theatre, the contributions of early black playwrights and dramatic writers. At a time when they were denied full participation in many aspects of American life, including the mainstream of the theatre itself, black artists were compiling an impressive record of achievement on the American stage. This book provides a look at these achievements by offering biographical information and a catalogue of works for approximately 200 writers, including playwrights, librettists, screenwriters, and radio scriptwriters. From the emergence of black playwrights in the time prior to the Civil War, to the early days of film and radio in this century, the efforts of early black writers are documented in this work. The book begins with an author's preface and is followed by an introductory essay that discusses the development of black American playwrights from the antebellum period to World War 2. The heart of the book, the biographical directory, is organized alphabetically, with each entry providing highlights of the author's life and career; collected anthologies that include any works; and an annotated chronological list of individual dramatic works, including genre, length, synopses, production history, prizes and awards, and script sources. Three appendices offer information on other playwrights and their works, additional librettists and descriptions of their shows, and a chronology of dramatic works by genre. A bibliography cites such information sources as reference books and critical studies, dissertations, play anthologies, and newspapers and periodicals frequently consulted, as well as significant libraries and repositories. The book concludes with title and general indexes and an index to early black theatre organizations. This work will be a reference source for courses in black American drama and theatre history, and may be a useful addition to both public and academic libraries.

Reviews

"Peterson has done a great service to students of African-American theater. Scholars who have been well served by his Contemporary Black American Playwrights and Their Plays [Greenwood Press, 1988] will not be disappointed in this companion volume. Peterson's scholarship is impressive; the book's format is inviting. The subtitle indicates consideration of scripts for film and radio as well as works for the stage. The introduction is well written and well supported by historical reference. The biographical directory that follows is more inclusive than any published to date. . . . The women are here to an extent they have not been in earlier general directories/bibliographies. . . . Excellent appendixes provide additional pre-1950 titles, additional musical librettists, a chronology of plays and screen/radio scripts classified by genre. Information sources, reference books, an index of theater organizations as well as a general index--all are useful and well organized. This is an indispensable reference book for academic libraries."-Choice
Early Black American Playwrights and Dramatic Writers: A Bibliographical Directory and Catalog of Plays, Films and Broadcasting Scripts addresses an often overlooked area in the history of the American theater, the contributions of early black playwrights and dramatic writers. It covers authors who were active from the antebellum period to World War II, and although primarily theatrical in scope, it does include useful biographical entries on African-American screenwriters, such as Oscar Micheaux, Carlton Moss and Clarence Muse. Useful chronological and title indexes.-Sightlines
Peterson has done a great service to students of African-American theater. Scholars who have been well served by his Contemporary Black American Playwrights and Their Plays [Greenwood Press, 1988] will not be disappointed in this companion volume. Peterson's scholarship is impressive; the book's format is inviting. The subtitle indicates consideration of scripts for film and radio as well as works for the stage. The introduction is well written and well supported by historical reference. The biographical directory that follows is more inclusive than any published to date. . . . The women are here to an extent they have not been in earlier general directories/bibliographies. . . . Excellent appendixes provide additional pre-1950 titles, additional musical librettists, a chronology of plays and screen/radio scripts classified by genre. Information sources, reference books, an index of theater organizations as well as a general index--all are useful and well organized. This is an indispensable reference book for academic libraries.-Choice
"Early Black American Playwrights and Dramatic Writers: A Bibliographical Directory and Catalog of Plays, Films and Broadcasting Scripts addresses an often overlooked area in the history of the American theater, the contributions of early black playwrights and dramatic writers. It covers authors who were active from the antebellum period to World War II, and although primarily theatrical in scope, it does include useful biographical entries on African-American screenwriters, such as Oscar Micheaux, Carlton Moss and Clarence Muse. Useful chronological and title indexes."-Sightlines

Author Bio

BERNARD L. PETERSON is Professor Emeritus of English and Drama at Elizabeth City State University, North Carolina. He is the author of Contemporary Black American Playwrights and Their Plays (Greenwood Press, 1988) and is currently completing an Enclylopedia of the Black American Musical Stage (forthcoming from Greenwood Press).