Book News

Black Broadway Chronicles the History of African-American Theater Artists

Broadway producer Stewart F. Lane will release his latest book next month.

The cover art for Black Broadway: African Americans on the Great White Way.
The cover art for Black Broadway: African Americans on the Great White Way.

This February, six-time Tony Award-winning producer and author Stewart F. Lane is releasing his latest book Black Broadway: African Americans on The Great White Way.

The book will feature over 300 photos, many of which have never been published, that chronicle the history of African-Americans on Broadway. The work spotlights landmark shows including A Raisin in the Sun, Porgy and Bess, Dreamgirls, Fences, The Wiz, Purlie Victorious, Ain't Misbehavin', Bring in 'Da Noise Bring in 'Da Funk, and The Scottsboro Boys, along with notable theater writers including August Wilson, Lorraine Hansberry, Eubie Blake, and Ossie Davis.

Legendary performers also highlighted in the book include Paul Robeson, Ethel Waters, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Pearl Bailey, Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, Bert Williams, Sammy Davis Jr., and Cab Calloway. Joining them in the historic illustration are some of today's Tony-winning stars such as Audra McDonald, Denzel Washington, James Earl Jones, Cicely Tyson, Savior Glover, Ben Vereen, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Leslie Uggams, Tonya Pinkins, Whoopi Goldberg, Jennifer Holliday, and Billy Porter.

Tony Award-winning director Kenny Leon (A Raisin in the Sun) provides the book's foreword. "The story of African-American theatre is the story of resilience," says Leon. "It is a story that has been previously documented, but not as thoroughly explored as now."

Square One Publishers releases Black Broadway February 2.