PERSPECTIVES ON SURVIVING AND THRIVING

IN BLACK THEATRE: WHAT WORKS?

 A Thesis

Presented to

The Faculty of the Television, Radio, Film, Theater

San Jose State University

In Partial Fulfillment

Of the Requirements for the Degree

Master of Arts

by

Viera Whye

May 2004

 

ABSTRACT

What are the elements required for a Black Theatre Company to survive and thrive in the United States?  This thesis seeks to understand what qualities and criteria are utilized to sustain a Black Theatre Company and/or to grow it to a level of commercial and artistic prominence.  Specific focus is given to two Black Theatre companies, one having survived for fifty years (the Arena Players in Baltimore), and the other -- one of the premier Black Theatre companies in the United States (St. Louis Black Repertory); additional focus is given to the award winning Crossroads Theatre in New Jersey which closed its doors in 2002.  The stories of these companies provide insight into what is necessary for a Black Theatre Company to operate.  A brief historical review of African American Theater is offered.  A model/matix for survival is presented and used to examine the operations of the selected companies.

Table of Contents

Chapter One: Introduction 1

Significance/Necessity of Black Theatre 1

Literature Review 5

Historical Perspective 18

Chapter Two: Black Theatre Operation/Criteria for Survival and Growth 36

The African American Audience an Storytelling 36

Stephen Langley's - Six W's 44

African Grove Institute of the Arts (AGIA) 47

National Black Theatre Festival ­ Larry Leon Hamlin 54

Samuel Hay’s Recommendations - The National Endowment for African American Theatre 59

Recommendations from The Theatre Communications Group 63

Recommendations from Sydné Mahone 68

Recommendations from Walter Dallas 69

Whye's Model (Criteria Established for Survival/Thriving Theates) 69

Chapter Three: Arena Players ­ A Surviving Black Theatre Company 72

Chapter Four: St. Louis Black Repertory ­ A Thriving Black Theatre 85

Chapter Five: Crossroads Theater - No Longer, A Thriving Black Theatre 98

Chapter Six: Reflections, Summary/Conclusion 111

Works Cited 124

Appendix - U. S. Professional Black Theatre Companies 129

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