The African Grove: Locating the Legacy of America’s First Black Theater

In 1821, William Alexander Brown formed what is believed to be the first Black theatre company in the United States. The African Grove Theater gained popularity with a diverse audience by presenting the works of Shakespeare, including productions of Richard III and King Lear, along with more contemporary plays, including one of Brown’s own original works. Despite this popularity, opposition to the company meant that it was frequently forced to change both its name and location, moving from Brown’s backyard to various spaces in lower Manhattan, before disappearing entirely in 1823.

On June 2, at the Library for the Performing Arts, New York Times critic-at-large Maya Phillips speaks with scholars Harvey Young and Michael Dinwiddie, about the brief life of this largely-overlooked moment in theatre history and the diversity of this current Broadway season.