African American Theatre: An Historical and Critical Analysis (Cambridge Studies in American Theatre and Drama) [Paperback]

Samuel A. Hay (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521465850 | ISBN-13: 978-0521465854 | Publication Date: March 25, 1994

A landmark work in the study of Black theater and drama, African American Theatre offers the first comprehensive history of a major cultural phenomenon until now too often neglected. In this fast-paced investigation, Hay seeks out the origins of Black theater in social protest, as envisioned by W.E.B. Dubois, and as a formal branch of arts theater. Divided between these opposing forces--the activist and the artistic--Black theater, Hay argues, faced conflicts of identity whose traces still haunt the medium today. African American Theatre thus offers a means of locating Black theater in the larger context of American theater and in the continuum of African American history from the nineteenth century to the present--and in doing so offers a profile of dramatic expression shaped and scarred by the forces of repression, of self-affirmation, and of subversion. Sweeping in scope, original in approach and provocatively written, this important book mines the origins and influences directing Black theater, while charting a course for its future survival.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...Hay's book is a significant contribution to the growing scholarship on African American theatre history. It highlights, in addition, African Americans' contributions to American theatre as a whole. Its clear writing style and jargon-free language greatly enhance its merit as a teching and research resource for both the specialized reader and the general public." American Studies

"Without a doubt, BTN member Samuel A. Hay's text, African American Theatre: An Historical and Critical Analysis, must be hailed as a milestone in Black Theatre scholarship....the text is a must for any credible American Theatre scholar or critic. Our academic colleagues no longer have an excuse for omitting a serious study of African American dramatic literature, aesthetics, criticism, and practice from their courses." BTNews

"This is another valuable addition to the 'Cambridge Studies in American Theatre and Drama' series, under the excellent editorship of Don Wilmeth." Choice

"...a step toward the recovery of African American theater and its inclusion in the study of American literature....Hay's work is invaluable...." Christine R. Gray, Theatre Survey

"...a lively and comprehensive history of the field and a clarion call to arms on behalf of it." Judie Newman, Journal of American Studies

"...Hay's theories are provocative and stimulating and his sweep through history provides impressive support for his claims....the book gives us a common language for analysis and provides those crucial details that make history more than a list of dates." Joni Jones, Drama Review

Book Description

Originating in 19th century social protest, Black theater has faced persistent conflicts of identity. A profile of dramatic expression shaped and scarred by repression, self-affirmation and subversion emerges from this first comprehensive history of an often neglected major cultural phenomenon.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (March 25, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521465850
• ISBN-13: 978-0521465854
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #637,275 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely worthwhile, September 21, 2000

By 

Prof. Sean A. Day (Chungli, Taiwan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: African American Theatre: An Historical and Critical Analysis (Cambridge Studies in American Theatre and Drama) (Paperback)

African American Theatre: An Historical and Critical Analysis", by Samuel A. Hay, is a must for every theatre enthusiast who has long realized that general works on Theater History show an appalling lack in dealing with the contribution of the African American community to theatre (like so many other 'histories'!). The first two chapters of Hay's book provide a very dense history of African American theatre from 1898 to the present and correspond to the two major schools of African American theatre: the Black Experience School of Drama, and the Black Arts School of Drama, the first based on Alain Locke's philosophy, the second on the teachings of sociologist William E. B. DuBois. The classification of the two schools into periods, classes and subclasses gets very confusing very fast, but Hay provides a helpful outline of the divisions at the beginning of his book. I admit that Hay's system of classification presented a problem for me: I have never liked people putting everything into preconceived little boxes. This first part of the book is very informative, but also extremely dense. The last three chapters of Hay's book comprise the 'critical analysis' portion, which simultaneously works as a very passionate appeal to African American theatre enthusiasts/students to persevere and help keep African American theatre alive.

I definitely recommend this book to all African American theatre students and to everyone else who is seriously interested in all aspects of theatre history, and who has long suspected that there might be more to African American theatre than "A Raisin in the Sun". It's not easy reading, but definitely worthwhile.

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely worthwhile, September 21, 2000

By 

Prof. Sean A. Day (Chungli, Taiwan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: African American Theatre: An Historical and Critical Analysis (Cambridge Studies in American Theatre and Drama) (Paperback)

African American Theatre: An Historical and Critical Analysis", by Samuel A. Hay, is a must for every theatre enthusiast who has long realized that general works on Theater History show an appalling lack in dealing with the contribution of the African American community to theatre (like so many other 'histories'!). The first two chapters of Hay's book provide a very dense history of African American theatre from 1898 to the present and correspond to the two major schools of African American theatre: the Black Experience School of Drama, and the Black Arts School of Drama, the first based on Alain Locke's philosophy, the second on the teachings of sociologist William E. B. DuBois. The classification of the two schools into periods, classes and subclasses gets very confusing very fast, but Hay provides a helpful outline of the divisions at the beginning of his book. I admit that Hay's system of classification presented a problem for me: I have never liked people putting everything into preconceived little boxes. This first part of the book is very informative, but also extremely dense. The last three chapters of Hay's book comprise the 'critical analysis' portion, which simultaneously works as a very passionate appeal to African American theatre enthusiasts/students to persevere and help keep African American theatre alive.

I definitely recommend this book to all African American theatre students and to everyone else who is seriously interested in all aspects of theatre history, and who has long suspected that there might be more to African American theatre than "A Raisin in the Sun". It's not easy reading, but definitely worthwhile.