The Routledge Companion to African American Theatre and Performance

• Other Authors: Perkins, Kathy A. (Editor), Perkins Richards, Sandra L. (Editor), Craft, Renée Alexander (Editor), Perkins Richards DeFrantz, Thomas F. (Editor)
• Format: Electronic Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 2020
• Subjects: History of art / art & design styles; Plays, playscripts; Theatre studies; A. Perkins Kathy; Adell Sandra; Afrocentric; Alexander Craft Renee; B. Thompson Lisa; Black; Burton Nefertiti; Byrd Rikki; Chanelle Truscott Cristal; Childress; D. Barcliff Baptista Lori; D. Luckett Sharrell; D. Soyini Madison; Diaspora; Dubois; E. Alvarado Pedro; E. Patrick Johnson; Effinger-Crichlow Marta; F. DeFrantz Thomas; Felder Niiamar; Fraser Rhone; Fulani Sunni-Ali Asantewa; G. Shannon Sandra; George-Graves Nadine; Gooden Amoaba; Gospel; Greene Melanie; Hale Wood Katelyn; Hansberry; Hip Hop; Hodges Persley Nicole; Holloway-Burrell JaMeeka; J. Hart Denise; J. K. Curry; Jamie Mary Chester Tabitha; Johnson Jasmine; Johnson Kashi; Jones Johnny; Joy Allen Leslye; Just Sascha; K. Zaheerah Sultan; Kelly Baron; Kelly Sonny; Krump; L. Arthur Loyce; L. Craft Howard; L. Forsgren La Donna; L. Perry Twila; L. Richards Sandra; L. H. Williams-Witherspoon Kimmika; LaMothe Mario; Lewis Barbara; Lynching; M. Cizmar Elizabeth; M. Mayo Sandra; M. Morris Johnson Nicole; Marie Seniors Paula; Matthew Wooden Isaiah; McAllister Marvin; Moss-Bouldin Shondrika; N. Edwards Margit; O'Connell Sam; Owusu Portia; Pauline Gumbs Alexis; Pulitzer; Ruffin Eric; S. Carr Gregory; Scott Giles Freda; Seaton Sandra; Sicre Daphnie; Smith Deroze Phyllisa; Stone-Lawrence Susan; Teshome Tezeru; Theatre & Performance; Turner Beth; Universoul; Vaudeville; Voguing; Walls Alison; Watson Turner Susan; White Ndounou Monica; Yaya Long Khalid; Zien Katherine
• Online Access: OAPEN Library: description of the publication

The Routledge Companion to African American Theatre and Performance is an outstanding collection of specially written essays that charts the emergence, development, and diversity of African American Theatre and Performance-from the nineteenth-century African Grove Theatre to Afrofuturism. Alongside chapters from scholars are contributions from theatre makers, including producers, theatre managers, choreographers, directors, designers, and critics. This ambitious Companion includes: A "Timeline of African American theatre and performance." Part I "Seeing ourselves onstage" explores the important experience of Black theatrical self-representation. Analyses of diverse topics including historical dramas, Broadway musicals, and experimental theatre allow readers to discover expansive articulations of Blackness. Part II "Institution building" highlights institutions that have nurtured Black people both on stage and behind the scenes. Topics include Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), festivals, and black actor training. Part III "Theatre and social change" surveys key moments when Black people harnessed the power of theatre to affirm community realities and posit new representations for themselves and the nation as a whole. Topics include Du Bois and African Muslims, women of the Black Arts Movement, Afro-Latinx theatre, youth theatre, and operatic sustenance for an Afro future. Part IV "Expanding the traditional stage" examines Black performance traditions that privilege Black worldviews, sense-making, rituals, and innovation in everyday life. This section explores performances that prefer the space of the kitchen, classroom, club, or field. This book engages a wide audience of scholars, students, and theatre practitioners with its unprecedented breadth. More than anything, these invaluable insights not only offer a window onto the processes of producing work, but also the labour and economic issues that have shaped and enabled African American theatre.