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ETD Abstract Container

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Representative Directors, Black Theatre Productions, and Practices at Historically Black Colleges and Universities 1968-1978

Marshall, Alex C.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1570783750512142

Abstract Details

1980, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, Theatre.
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 Communications. 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 entertaining 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. 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.
John Scott (Advisor)
African American Studies; Higher Education; Theater

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Marshall, A. C. (1980). Representative Directors, Black Theatre Productions, and Practices at Historically Black Colleges and Universities 1968-1978 [Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1570783750512142

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Marshall, Alex. Representative Directors, Black Theatre Productions, and Practices at Historically Black Colleges and Universities 1968-1978. 1980. Bowling Green State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1570783750512142.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Marshall, Alex. "Representative Directors, Black Theatre Productions, and Practices at Historically Black Colleges and Universities 1968-1978." Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University, 1980. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1570783750512142

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1570783750512142
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