Emory Honors Founders Of First US Theater To Highlight Artists Of Color
Playwright and Negro Emsemble Company founder Douglas Turner Ward’s archives has been acquired by Emory University.
Courtesy of Emory University
Atlanta’s cherished True Colors Theatre is one in a legacy of theater companies dedicated to highlighting theater makers of color.
The first in the United States is celebrating 50 years. It’s called the Negro Ensemble Company and has fostered talent ranging from Atlanta’s own Pearl Cleage to superstars like Lawrence Fishburne and Denzel Washington.
It all began with playwright Douglas Turner Ward, who was invited to write an article in The New York Times in 1966, which he titled “American Theatre: For Whites Only?”
“In that article, I analyzed the situation of black performers, and I called for an independent, self-determining autonomous, black institution that would allow them to create and be in control of their own theater destiny,” explained 87-year-old Ward in an interview with “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes.
His article became a manifesto for many black theater makers at the time and encouraged producer and actor Robert Hooks and theater manager Gerald Krone to partner with him to create the Negro Ensemble Company.
The NEC became a one-of-a-kind training facility for young actors, playwrights and directors and produced a variety of plays focusing on African American stories.
“One of the major contributions of the NEC was in creating a space for artists to be creative,” said Pellom McDaniels, the curator African American Collections at the Stuart A. Rose Library at Emory. “It presented the kinds of stories that are reflective of the changelings and aspirations of African Americas, the stories that go untold to the general public.”
The Rose Library now houses Ward’s archive, which includes plays, correspondences with notable theater makers and photographs of actors that participated in the NEC.
“I’m happy not just personally but also what it means for future generations,” said Ward on the archive. “They will see and get a concrete example of not just the theoretical business of black arts but also the pragmatic success of it.”
In addition to the archive, Ward and the other NEC founders are being honored at Emory as part of a three-city tour. They will discuss their work tonight at White Hall on Emory’s campus from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. They will also be featured in a film that will screen as part of the event.
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