In the Shadow of the Great White Way: Images from the Black Theatre

by Bert Andrews, Paul Carter Harrison

Andrews, Bert, Harrison, Paul Carter

150 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1989

Reviews

[Creolecat]

In January 1985, a fire swept through photographer Bert Andrews’ New York apartment wiping out some 40,000 to 50,000 images he had taken of black theatre productions dating back to 1955. Luckily, some of the prints were still available at theatre companies like the Negro Ensemble Theatre, the New Federal Theatre, and the Frank Silvera Writer’s Workshop. Presented in this book is a small portion of Andrews’ collection of photographs he was able to recover spanning the years 1957 to 1984. The book includes a touching introduction by Cicely Tyson (whose photos are throughout the book); historical notes (Lewis Hallam’s 1769 comedy The Padlock which introduced the first black character to the American stage; A Trip to Coontown, the first American musical with a plot; black versions of Clifford Odets’ Waiting for Lefty, and Phillip Yordan’s Anna Lucasta). Also included is an insightful conversation between Bert Andrews and Paul Carter Harrison.

[Nicole]

A really historic collection of photos with excellent text by the photographer himself, Bert Andrews. Sent me to the library catalogue for so many plays mentioned.