Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- African American Drama and Theatre: Outline of Schools, Periods, Classes, Subclasses, and Types
- Introduction
- 1 The Black Experience School of Drama
- 2 The Black Arts School of Drama
- 3 Theatre People: Some Splendid Examples
- 4 The Governance of Theatre Organizations
- 5 Development
- Conclusion
- Appendixes
- Notes
- Select Bibliography
- Index
3 - Theatre People: Some Splendid Examples
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 January 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- African American Drama and Theatre: Outline of Schools, Periods, Classes, Subclasses, and Types
- Introduction
- 1 The Black Experience School of Drama
- 2 The Black Arts School of Drama
- 3 Theatre People: Some Splendid Examples
- 4 The Governance of Theatre Organizations
- 5 Development
- Conclusion
- Appendixes
- Notes
- Select Bibliography
- Index
Summary
Let young Anglo-Africans, when they feel the weight and the manifest nature of the barrier in their way to eminence, remember … Ira Aldridge. We say this is a splendid example for the reason that the severe criticism of the London paper, in 1834, falling upon him when he had reckoned himself fit for the London stage, so far from discouraging [him] only acted as a stimulant to Mr. Aldridge, and drove him to a more severe course of dramatic study, which, after twenty years of persevering assiduity, placed him on that pinnacle of fame, to attain which he started out. What greater difficulties can there be in the way of any of our young?
Dr. James McCune SmithIT does not take much to make theatre people swear off theatre. Dr. Thurman W. Stanback (a former theatre chair at Bethune-Cookman College; later, professor of theatre at Florida Atlantic University) almost quit after the opening night at one college production. His lead actor, a full-time student and mother of teens, fell asleep on stage. Her leading man gave her cue after cue, waiting for her to rise from the sofa as if she had been asleep. He finally shook her. Half awake, she shouted out: “What y'all doing with all these lights on?” Although Dr. Stanback found this incident slightly unfunny that night, he continued with the theatre, which he has been a part of for almost fifty years.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- African American TheatreAn Historical and Critical Analysis, pp. 135 - 170Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1994