The emergence and development of the black dramatic actress, 1890-1917.
Item
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Title
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The emergence and development of the black dramatic actress, 1890-1917.
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Identifier
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AAI9009791
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identifier
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9009791
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Creator
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Tanner, Jo Ann.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Stanley A. Waren
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Date
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1989
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Theater
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Abstract
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It was not until the 1890s, in Black musicals, that Black women gained real prominence on the American stage. Later, some made a transition from musicals to straight dramatic plays. This study will examine the theatrical activity of selected Black women (from the more than 200 recorded) who performed on the mainstream professional stage and on the professional Black stage (e.g., the Lafayette Theatre) in New York from 1890-1917. What was the impact of these entertainers on the image and development of the Black performer, on the development of Black musical comedy and legitimate drama, and on the evolution of mainstream American theatre, itself?;A direct almost evolutionary line can be traced from the Black musicals of the 1890s to Ridgeley Torrence's Three Plays for a Negro Theatre (1917), the first dramatic presentation on the Broadway stage in America in which Black actresses appeared. A number of these actresses began their careers in Black musical shows at the turn of the century, careers that would last over forty years. These turn-of-the-century actresses helped to lay the foundation for the contemporary Black actress. Of particular significance are those who did make the successful transition from musicals to dramas, and refuted the generally held belief that while Black performers were natural singers and dancers, they did not possess the ability to portray dramatic characters. In so doing, they began the odyssey of the evolving performing pattern of many a Black dramatic actress. The study will provide a sampling of these performers.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
