By: lorrie marlow

lorrie marlow — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 04:43:00 +0000

As Robert Hooks’ wife and collaborator on his memoir-in-progress, it is always so discouraging when he sees yet another inaccurate version of the inception of the NEC. Robert, also a member of the Broadway cast of A Raisin in the Sun, had created an arts collective for disadvantaged youth in Chelsea. He felt Douglas was a brilliant writer and asked if he could have the more seasoned of his group stage a one-night performance of Doug’s one-act, “Happy Endings”, paired with “We Real Cool” By chance, theatre reviewer Jerry Tallmer attended, gave a glowing review and Robert decided to become a first-time producer by mounting two of Doug’s one-acts: “Happy Endings” and “Day of Absence” at the Cherry Lane where Robert had starred in Genet’s The Blacks (and which they ultimately chose to house the NEC). AS A RESULT OF ROBERT’S SRO PRODUCTION of Doug’s plays, Doug was invited to write the NY Times article. And as a result of THAT, McNeil Lowery attended Robert’s production of Doug’s plays and THREE OF THEM…Robert, Doug and Gerald Krone (who was Robert’s production manager for the production) created a proposal for a vision of the NEC…and THE THREE OF THEM LEFT A FOLLOW UP MEETING with the three years funding.

By: Jennifer L Miles

Jennifer L Miles — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 14:48:00 +0000

Photo of A Soldiers Play by Bert Andrews. See his book in the shadow of the great white way

By: Rhone Fraser

Rhone Fraser — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 14:08:00 +0000

I am grateful for the work of the sitcom actresses like Esther Rolle and Phylicia Rashad who were trained in the NEC, which has been doing excellent dramatic plays since its inception. NEC actors have helped bring Hollywood and Broadway into the twenty first century with images and stories that combat racism and xenophobia.

Comments on: The Negro Ensemble Company Blazed Trails for Black Theatre

By: lorrie marlow

By: Jennifer L Miles

By: Rhone Fraser