Black Theatre Alliance
The Black Theatre Alliance (BTA) was a federation of African American theater companies in New York City that was founded in 1971 by playwrights Delano Stewart, Hazel Bryant, and Roger Furman.[1] Duane Jones was executive director from 1976 to 1981.[2] The organization sought to provide institutional support and resources to independent artists and touring companies.[3] The BTA had a national membership of over sixty black theater and dance companies before being reported as defunct in 1984.[4]
The Black Theatre Alliance published the Black Theatre Resources Directory, which provided listings of theaters and services for playwrights, technicians and other industry professionals.[1] It also sponsored an annual Black Theater Alliance Festival that took place at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.[5]
Archival material relating to the organization's activities are contained in the Helen Armstead-Johnson Miscellaneous Theater Collections, 1818-1993, in the Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Books Division, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library.[6]
References
- "Black Theatre Alliance." Encyclopedia of African American Society, edited by Gerald D. Jaynes, vol. 1, SAGE Reference, 2005, pp. 130-131. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Accessed 16 Feb. 2019.
- Fraser, C. Gerald (July 28, 1988). "Duane L. Jones, 51, Actor and Director Of Stage Works, Dies" – via NYTimes.com.
- Calta, Louis (July 31, 1971). "8 Negro Groups Form Stage Unit" – via NYTimes.com.
- Bailey, A. Peter. "A Look at the Contemporary Black Theatre Movement." Black American Literature Forum 17.1 (Spring 1983), pp. 19-21. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2904163.
- Bailey, Peter. "Annual Roundup: Black Theater in America - New York City." Black World/Negro Digest. April 1974. pp. 28-33.
- Helen Armstead-Johnson Miscellaneous Theater Collections, 1831-1993. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library.