[Rarebooks] FS: The Birth of African-American theatre, 1917

[Charles Agvent]

TORRENCE,  Ridgely. GRANNY MAUMEE. THE RIDER OF DREAMS. SIMON  THE
CYRENIAN.  PLAYS FOR A NEGRO THEATRE. New York: MacMillan 1917.  First
Edition.  This  collection of plays by the white  playwright  Torrence
was  published  the same month as their first production  on  Broadway
(with  perhaps  the first Black actors to appear in leading  roles  on
Broadway),  a  production  James  Weldon Johnson  in  BLACK  MANHATTAN
called  "the most important single event in the entire history of  the
Negro  in  the American theatre.... It was the first time anywhere  in
the  United States for Negroes in the dramatic theatre to command  the
serious  attention  of  the  critics  and of  the  general  press  and
public."  Raoul  Abdul  in  his   article  "The  Negro  Playwright  on
Broadway"  dates the true beginning of African-American theatre to the
date  these  one-act  plays premiered: "These plays by  a  white  poet
opened  two great doors: the door to the use of Negro life as material
for  serious  theatre  and the door to acceptance of Negro  actors  as
performers  in  non-musical  theatre." An important and  scarce  book,
especially  in  this condition. Fine in a Near Fine  dustwrapper  with
small chips at the rear.                                       $750.00

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