Broadway’s Black History

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.

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