AWARD-WINNING PLAYS

GREAT MEN OF GOSPEL won Vivian Robinson/Audelco Award for Best Ensemble for 2003-4 season, and Best Choreography for Dyanne Harvey.

BLACK GIRL by J.e Franklin received a Drama Desk Award as best play of the 1971/72 season. It ran for six months Off-Broadway and toured three months. It was directed by Shauneille Perry.

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WHAT THE WINESELLERS BUY by Ron Milner followed: Joseph Papp picked it up and it was the first Black play presented at Lincoln Center. It went on to tour ten major cities, including eleven weeks in Chicago during our 1973/74 season.

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In the 1974/75 season NFT presented two award winning plays, THE TAKING OF MISS JANIE and PRODIGAL SISTER. THE TAKING OF MISS JANIE by Ed Bullins received three Obie Awards and the Drama Critics Circle Award as Best New American Play of the 1994/75 season. It was directed by Gilbert Moses. PRODIGAL SISTER by J.e Franklin and Mikki Grant. PRODIGAL SISTER had an Off-Broadway run at Theatre De Lys It went on to tour Washington and Philadelphia and was directed by Shauneille Perry.

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In the 1975/76 season, NFT presented the next award-winning play, FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF by Ntozake Shange. This play moved from our theatre in a co-production arrangement with Joseph Papp to the New York Shakespeare Festival, and, from there to the Booth Theatre on Broadway and then on to television via American Playhouse.

 

In the 1976/77 season, NFT presented the award winning SHOWDOWN by Don Evans. It went on to tour Washington and Philadelphia.

 

Ray Ramirez's MONDONGO moved to the New York Shakespeare Festival, Mobile Unit, in the 1977/78 season. It was choreographed by Debbie Allen.

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THE DANCE AND THE RAILROAD by David Henry Hwang moved to the Shakespeare Festival Public Theatre. It played there for over six months during the 1980/81 season. It won three Obie Awards which led to the cable television production with the same title: THE DANCE AND THE RAILROAD. It was directed by and co-starred John Lone.

 

In our 1981/82 season, Damien Leake's CHILD OF THE SUN was the recipient of the coveted Richard Rodgers Production Award of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters. It was directed by Harold Scott. In the 1981/82 season, NFT also presented the award-winning, WHEN CHICKENS CAME HOME TO ROOST by Laurence Holder. It starred Denzel Washington as Malcolm X.

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