The first edition of the Historical Dictionary of African American Theatre (2008) chronicled nearly 200 years of Black theater, highlighting key figures and organizations. The second edition (2013) expanded this with over 700 entries on actors, playwrights, plays, and theaters. As we prepare the third edition, We invite authors to submit entries documenting theatrical contributions from 1816 to the publishing date.
In 2008, Scarecrow Press first published the Historical Dictionary of African American Theatre (HDAAT) by Dr. Anthony D. Hill with Douglas Q. Barnett, celebrating nearly 200 years of Black theater in the United States. This first edition identifies key theater-producing organizations, playwrights, actors, and directors, chronicling their significant contributions from the birth of Black theater in 1816 to the present. It highlights the rich history and profound impact of African American theater on the nation's cultural landscape.
The second edition of HDAAT (2013) celebrates nearly 200 years of Black theater in the United States, highlighting the rich history, current representation, and future promise of the Black aesthetic. It identifies key Black theaters, playwrights, plays, actors, directors, and designers, chronicling their contributions from 1816 to the present. This edition includes a chronology, introduction, appendices, and extensive bibliography, with over 700 cross-referenced entries on notable figures and works. It is an invaluable resource for students, researchers, and anyone interested in the profound impact of African American theater.
The third edition of HDAAT captures significant developments from 1816 to the publishing date, celebrating milestones such as four Black actors winning Tony Awards in American songwriter and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton, Denzel Washington's acclaimed stage performances, and Lynn Nottage's historic second Pulitzer Prize. It documents key events like the rebranded International Black Theatre Festival and the Atlanta Black Theatre Festival, reflecting the vibrant growth of Black theater. This edition includes over 700 cross-referenced entries on notable figures, plays, and productions, along with a detailed chronology, introduction, appendices, and bibliography, making it an invaluable resource for understanding the ongoing evolution and impact of African American theater.
"A dictionary that spans from A to Z and display(s) a thorough knowledge of who's who in black theatre, going as far back as the African Grove Theatre's founder William Alexander Brown in the 1820's."
"African American theatre does not have a very long history... but it certainly has more than can be found anywhere else with the insight of insiders."
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