African American Theatre

There is a belief that the art of live theatre is no longer relevant. However, after being exposed to the fundamentals of theatre over the course of the semester, it is clear that theatre plays a vast role in today’s society. It is an art form that is unique and unlike any other form of art. In fact, theatre is not just an art form, it is a form of expression, culture, and history. Each play addresses issues and problems people face and connects with the audience in a way that books, artwork, and even film cannot. Not only is live theatre important to the audience, but it also has many impacts on the people involved in the production of theatre. Theatre teaches valuable lessons such as teamwork and communication and is an outlet of expression …show more content…
Many types of theatre, including African American, Latino, and Feminist Theatre, originated during the civil rights movement. Each group felt as if the original form of theatre was not diverse and that their own cultures and beliefs were being excluded from the productions. Because of this, they each decided to form their own theatre regarding the lives and difficulties they faced. One of the main goals of the American Negro Theatre was to accurately depict African Americans lives and the political and social issues they faced. August Wilson, Susan-Lori Parks, and Tarell Alivin McCraney were and continue to be great playwrights involved in the African American Theatre. Latino theatre portrays life as a Latino living in America regarding civil rights with plays such as Los Vendidos and Roosters. Feminist theatre arose to tackle equal rights for women, gender roles, and to confront concerns of women that are not often addressed by men. These types of theatre expose audiences to cultures and ideas not of their own, therefore, generating a more globalized society. With today’s technology, it is now possible to communicate with almost anyone across the world. With this new technology, it is critical that people be mindful and sensitive to disparate religions, cultures, and ideas. If everyone in the world was conscious of others beliefs and learned to become less ethnocentric and …show more content…
Each play addresses problems and issues that everyone faces and can relate to. Theatre connects people of every age, race, religion, and social class in a way that no other art form can. The belief that theatre is no longer relevant is apocryphal. Theatre erases all boundaries and addresses taboos that must be discussed while also creating a sense of globalization and cultural relativism in a society that needs it now more than