Overview
Synopsis
New York City, 1821. 40 years before the Civil War, William Henry Brown, a free black American, organizes a production of Shakespeare’s Richard III for a predominantly black audience. But in doing so, Brown challenges the leading producer of New York City, Stephen Price, who has secured the famous English actor Junius Brutus Booth to play Richard III at his Park Theatre. As Brown fights for the right of his company to present Shakespeare, his African Grove Theatre Company fights within their ranks, questioning the appropriation of English drama for African-American actors and the racial implications of such a move. Based on the true story of the first African-American theatre company, Carlyle Brown’s The African Company Presents Richard III carries a timeless message of negotiating racial consciousness in theatre that still resonates for actors and audiences today.
Show Information
- Book
- Carlyle Brown
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1988
- Genres
- Drama, Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Period, Simple/No Set
- Time & Place
- New York City, 1821
- Cast Size
- small
- Licensor
- Dramatists Play Service
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Small Cast, Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly Characters
Context
The African Grove Theatre Company was founded in 1821 by William Brown, a former ship’s steward who traveled to London where he first saw theatre. Wanting to bring the theatrical experience to black audiences, Brown created his company in which all-black casts presented Shakespeare’s plays (predominantly Richard III) to mostly black audiences. White patrons were allowed in the theatre, but had to sit in the back behind a partition. At the African Grove Theatre, the first professional
to read the context for The African Company Presents Richard III and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
Stephen Price, the impresario and manager of the Park Theatre in New York City, announces to the audience that he is producing William Shakespeare’s Richard III, with the title villain to be portrayed by the famous English actor, Junius Brutus Booth. However, Price warns that there is another company that attempted to perform the same play in an affront to the Park Theatre and its artistic integrity: The African Grove Theatre Company. This rival group is made up of black actors
to read the plot for The African Company Presents Richard III and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
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Lead |
Male |
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Lead |
Male |
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Lead |
Female |
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Supporting |
Male |
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Supporting |
Female |
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Supporting |
Male |
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Supporting |
Male |
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Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Cindi Calhoun
Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress