the VLT
History of Black Theatre in America
theVLT [Very Little Theatre]
The History of Black Theatre in America
with Stan Coleman & Hershell Norwood
Black Theatre in America began long before A Raisin in the Sun. Stan Coleman and Hershell Norwood sat down for an in-depth conversation on the topic starting with an examination of Minstrel shows, Blackface, and Tom shows, continuing on with the African Grove Theatre in New York City founded in 1821, and the people who brought that movement to life. The conversation then explores the rise of Black theatre during the Harlem Renaissance, and then on to the civil rights plays of the 1950-60s and to contemporary Black plays and playwrights. All of this punctuated by video performances to demonstrate the historical context.
This is a rich history that has mostly been omitted from the story of theatre in America. Please join Stan and Hershell to learn about these vibrant and dynamic theatre movements, and how they inform who we are today.
Watch here live or on Facebook at https://facebook.com/theVLT [1:10:42]
