Black Broadway History
The roots of the black musical theater reach back to the circuses, dime museums, and minstrel shows in the years surrounding the Civil War. There have been a bountiful amount of black-authored entries: some of the most known is “The Wiz” and “Noise/Funk”. Black Musical Theatre, or in particular black authored musicals had its share of advantages and disadvantages. Following the launch of African American theatre, there were more than a dozen black authors writing for the stage mostly in the form of story-driven musical comedies. However, between 1911 and 1920 it suffered a period of decline. Although the involvement in black musical theater has grown scarce, playwrights like Tyler Perry now create opportunities for those who are not offered exposure.
