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And Practices at Historically Black Colleges and Universities

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And Practices at Historically Black Colleges and Universities A^ü. i REPRESENTATIVE DIRECTORS, BLACK THEATRE PRODUCTIONS, AND PRACTICES AT HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES 1968-1978 Alex C. Marshall A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate College of Bowling Green State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY March 1980 Approved by Doctoral Committee: Graduate College„Representative il ABSTRACT This investigation described the status of Black Theatre productions and practices at four year historically Black Colleges and Universities with degree programs in Speech and Drama, Speech and Theatre, or Communi­ cations. The objectives of this study were: (1) to profile the directors and their production philosophies and practices; (2) to chronicle and categorize Black plays produced during 1968-1978; (3) to characterize the practices in theatre management and (4) to describe trends, and chart some implications from the data collected. Primary data for this study was obtained from mailed questionnaires and thirty-two audio recorded interviews with theatre practitioners at the 43rd National Association of Dramatic and Speech Arts (NADSA) Convention in Chicago, Illinois, on April 4-7, 1979. Thirty-six questionnaires were mailed and thirty (83%) were returned; twenty-four (66%) were usable for this investigation. Results of the study revealed that the directors were academically trained, experienced, of varying ages, Black, male dominated, and dedicated The absence of women as theatre directors suggested areas for study to clarify the reasons for this situation. Respondents believed that productions should be primarily enter­ taining which suggested their having traditional responses to the function of art that has been assailed by the proponents of the Black Arts Movement who call for art as a political influence. Ill The preponderance of Black plays seemed to confirm the prominent role of historically Black Colleges and Universities in the dissemination of Black Drama. The abundance of Black productions on these campuses provides an excellent opportunity to study, create and develop performance theories, criteria for the evaluation of Black productions and inquiries into Black playwrights and their audiences. Primary sources of funding for productions and related research were from the University or College Administration. Nonetheless, the efforts by these directors to secure funds from the private sector, tours, government grants and student organizations suggested that funding by the administrations was inadequate and that these directors diverted energies for fund raising to maintain their production programs and related research activities. This investigation with its generalizations and probes clarified the need and offered some directions toward a research renaissance to address the years of "benign neglect" of both Black Theatre and historically Black Colleges and Universities as viable areas of scholarly inquiry. IV ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS From: Alex Because you love me I have much achieved, Had you despised me then I must have failed, But since I knew you trusted and believed, I could not disappoint you and so prevailed—Paul Lawrence Dunbar To: Dr. John S. Scott Miss Rita L. Mowry Dr. Ramona T. Cormier Mrs. Shari Cappuzzello Dr. David W. Addington Dr. Winifred 0. Stone Dr. Lois A. Cheney Dr. Robert L. Perry Dr. Charles Boughton Miss Celeste Whitson Mrs. Mintie S. Marshall Mr. Errol R. Lam Mrs. Betty J. Marshall Mr. Harmon Watson Mr. Brandon K. Marshall Grambling State University Miss Kathy J. Duncan Foundation National Association of Speech and Dramatic Arts Subj ect: Asante! Gracias’. Shei-Shei! Merci! Danke! Thanks! V TABLE OF CONTENTS Page CHAPTER I THE PROBLEM...................................................................................................... 1 Introduction............................................................................................................................. 1 Statement of the Problem................................................................................................ 7 Importance of the Study................................................................................................... 8 Research Methodology......................................... ................................................................ 8 Review of the Literature.......................................................... ...................................... 10 Summary.......................................................................................................................................... 13 Footnotes..................................................................................................................................... 15 CHAPTER II DIRECTORS' PROFILES, PHILOSOPHIES, AND PRACTICES............ 17 Introduction........................................................................................... ................................. 17 Demographic Data on the Representative Directors....................................... 17 ^Definitions of Black Theatre....................................................................................... 22 Production Philosophies and Perceptions............................................................ 25 Directorial Practices........................................................................................................ 28 ^•Summary.. 32 P Footnotes, 34 CHAPTER III PROFILE OF BLACK PLAYS PRODUCED 1968-1978............................. 36/0 Introduction............................................................................................................................. 36 Chronology of Black Plays and Playwrights........................................................ 39 Types of Black Plays Produced.................................................................................... 41 VI Page Frequency of Plays and Playwrights......................................................................... 45 Touring of Productions............................... 48 Summary.......................................................................................................................................... 50 Footnotes..................................................................................................................................... 51 CHAPTER IV THEATRE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES............................................................. 52 Introduction............................................................ 52 Funding for Productions andR elated Research................................................. 53 Promotion and Publicity................................................................................................... 56 'p Special Projects.................................................................................................................... 58 Audience Analysis and Development........................................................................... 62 Summary.......................................................................................................................................... 62 Footnotes..................................................................................................................................... 66 CHAPTER V SUMMARY, AND IMPLICATIONS.................................................................... 67 An Overview of the Research Problem...................................................................... 67 Directors’ Profile, Philosophies, and Practices......................................... 70 Black Plays Produced 1968-1978.................................................................................. 76 Selected Theatre Management Practices................................................................. 78 Conclusion.................................................................................................................................. 81 Footnotes.................................................................................................... 83 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY................................................................................................................. 84 APPENDIX A............................................................................................................................................ 92 APPENDIX B............................................................................................................................................ 100 APPENDIX C............................................................................................................................................ 120 APPENDIX ............................................................................................................................................... 124 vii Page APPENDIX E............................................................................................................................................ 127 APPENDIX F............................................................................................................................................ 133 APPENDIX G............................................................................................................................................ 139 viii LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1 Education and Teaching Experience of Representative Directors...................... .............................................. , 21 2 Sex and Age of Representative Directors................................. 22 3 Rank
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