African American dramatists

Scope and Contents Dramatist and University of Connecticut School of Fine Arts professor Leon Bailey delivered 4 lectures. Bailey spoke on 4/22/1986 (2015-0002/RR101), 2/3/1987 (2015-0002/RR102), 2/27/1990 (2015-0002/AC2) and 10/10/1989 (2015-0002/AC3). RR 101 Leon Bailey, professor of Dramatic Arts, talks about one of the most important theatrical events of the 20th century--the original production of Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun" in 1959. Bailey continues on with a discussion of...

Scope and Contents

Charles Briggs lectured at the University of Connecticut on 2/6/1973 (2015-0002/RR111). Charles Briggs talks about himself and his experiences as a successful person in the theatre.

Scope and Contents Playwright Ed Bullins spoke to the Black Experience in the Arts course (2015-0002/AC6). Unfortunately no date is attached to his lecture so it unknown when he spoke to students.Bullins' work earned him New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards as well as Obie Awards (for off-Broadway productions). He also served as Minister of Culture for the Black Panthers. AC 6 The recording begins with questions and answers by an unidentified woman, no introduction, the male...

Scope and Contents Crouch spoke on 2/28/1978 (2015-0002/RR128), 10/27/1981 (2015-0002/RR129), and 9/25/1984 (2015-0002/RR130) (2015-0002/RR311). Crouch was an American poet, music and cultural critic, syndicated columnist, novelist, drummer, and biographer. He was known for his jazz criticism and his 2000 novel, Don't the Moon Look Lonesome? He was a MacArthur Fellow and served as the senior consultant to Ken Burns' 2001 documentary, ...

Scope and Contents The Cornbread Players (7) perform "Jazznite", a one act, one scene play written by Jones. The cast includes Robin Braxton (Leola), Norma Jean Darden (Barbara), Lennal Wainwright (Slick), Sam Singleton (Elijah), Ed Bernard (Dudder), Walter Cotton (Uncle Baylock), and MacArthur Flack (Heddy). Questions and answer session with the actors and the playwright followed the performance. [Review of the play, NYT, 1971-04-19;...

Scope and Contents

Introduced by Leon Bailey, Mr. Lee provided some details about his background and the type of writing, the multiple media in which he writes and his preferences based on the amount of control he has over his writing.

Playwright Leslie Lee delivered a lecture on 9/29/1987 (2015-0002/RR214). Leslie Lee was an American playwright, director and professor of playwriting and screenwriting.

Scope and Contents

Playwright and theater professor Loften Mitchell delivered 5 lectures over 11 years. Mitchell spoke on 2/2/1970 (2015-0002/RR224), 10/17/1972 (2015-0002/RR225), 10/8/1974 (2015-0002/RR226), 9/28/1976 (2015-0002/RR227) and lastly on 1/27/1981 (2015-0002/RR228). James Loften Mitchell (April 15, 1919 – May 14, 2001) was an American playwright and theatre historian who was part of the black American theatre movement of the 1960s.

Scope and Contents Poet and playwright Lindsay Patterson delivered 3 lectures that can be found on 3 reels and 1 audio cassette. Patterson spoke on 10/2/1973 (2015-0002/RR241), 4/19/1977 (2015-0002/RR242 reel 1) (2015-0002/RR243 reel 2), and 12/5/1989 (2015-0002/AC14).Patterson attended Virginia State University, earning a BA in English before serving in the US Army as a reporter for Stars and Stripes. Arriving in New York City in 1962, Patterson began a four decade long writing career...

Scope and Contents

Poet and playwright Lynda Patton lectured on two occasions: 2/10/1987 (2015-0002/RR247) and 3/20/1990 (2015-0002/AC16).

AC 16 Ms. Patton's lecture was on being a playwright, specifically a Black, female playwright.

RR 247 Linda Patton speaks to the Black Experience in the Arts class with performances by James Spruill and Georgette Leslie.

Scope and Contents

Ms. Patton spoke about her personal history, education, experiences with discrimination, civil rights all of which impacted her career and introduced the readings and monologues spoken by Spruill and Leslie. Mr. Spruill read a piece he wrote about Ms. Patton's father entitled "And they gave me gas money" and other monologues. Ms. Leslie's monologue began with "I'm what you call a good girl."

Scope and Contents Mr. Raphael plans to talk about himself as a playwright and the problems and successes he's encountered and also the role of the Black man in drama and American life. Sound goes in and out [first 50+/- sec].Poet, playwright, and journalist Lennox Raphael lectured on 11/30/1971 (2015-0002/RR252). Raphael, born in Trinidad, began his career as a writer by working as a reporter in Jamaica before coming to the United States as a U.N. correspondent during the 1960s. Living in New...

Scope and Contents Actor, director, and theatre professor James Spruill spoke to Black Experience in the Arts students on 2/18/1986 (2015-0002/RR274/AC21) and on 2/10/1987 (2015-0002/RR247) with Lynda Patton and Georgette Leslie. Spruill attended Boston University (BU) for a Master’s of Fine Arts in directing in 1968 and was the first to be awarded the Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellowship. While a student at BU, Spruill co-founded the New African Company, a small professional theatre dedicated to presenting the...

Scope and Contents

Leon Bailey introduces Professor Ardelle Striker. Striker speaks about who has produced Black Theatre followed by trends in Black Theatre today and what is being produced in 1990. Theater professor Ardelle Striker spoke on 2/13/1990 (2015-0002/AC22).