Black Girl is a play by American playwright J. E. Franklin

J. E. Franklin

J. E. Franklin is an American playwright, best known for her play, Black Girl, which was later made into a 1972 feature film.-Biography:She was born Jennie Elizabeth Franklin in Houston, Texas to Robert Franklin and Mathie Randle. Ms. Franklin has written several plays, but is best known for Black...

. It was first produced on public television in 1969, followed by an off-Broadway

Off-Broadway

Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...

 production in 1971. It was later adapted by the playwright as a feature film that was released the following year.

Characters

Earl
Mu'Dear
Netta
Mama Rosie
Billie Jean
Norma
Ruth Ann
Sheryl
Little Earl
Mr. Herbert

Plot synopsis

A family drama about a young woman who defies the low expectations thrust upon her and pursues her dream of becoming a dancer.

Original Off-Broadway production

• Directed by Shauneille Perry
• Produced by New Federal Theatre
• Producers: Bert Beck, Woody King, Jr. and Dick Williams
  Dick Anthony Williams
  Dick Anthony Williams is an American actor. Williams is known for his starring performances on Broadway in The Poison Tree, What the Wine-Sellers Buy and Black Picture Show. He is also remembered for playing the character of Pretty Tony in The Mack, which starred Max Julien and Richard Pryor...
  
  
• Set Designer: Charles Mills
• Costume Designer: Femi
• Lighting Designer: Buddy
• Sound Designer: Gary Harris
• Production Stage Manager: Horacena J. Taylor
  Horacena J. Taylor
  Horacena J. Taylor is an American director and stage manager. She is best known for staging the original off-Broadway production of steve carter's critically acclaimed play Nevis Mountain Dew.-Biography:...
  
  
• Opened: June 17, 1971 at Theatre De Lys
  Lucille Lortel Theatre
  The Lucille Lortel Theatre is an off-Broadway playhouse located at 121 Christopher Street in New York City's Greenwich Village.The venue was built in 1926 as a 590-seat movie theater called the New Hudson, later known as Hudson Playhouse...
  
  

Cast

• Arthur French
  Arthur French (actor)
  Arthur French is an American actor and director best known for his work in the theatre.- Biography :Throughout a career that spans over fifty years, French is best known for his work on the stage. He worked extensively with the Negro Ensemble Company and has played a wide variety of roles...
  
   - Earl
• Minnie Gentry
  Minnie Gentry
  Minnie Gentry was an American actress.Gentry was born Minnie Lee Watson in Norfolk, Virginia, the daughter of Mincie and Taylor Watson. Her family moved to Cleveland during her childhood, where she began studying piano at the age of nine, at the Phyllis Wheatley School of Music...
  
   - Mu'Dear
• Saundra P. Sharp - Netta
• Louise Stubbs - Mama Rosie
• Kishasha - Billie Jean
• Gloria Edwards - Norma
• Loretta Greene - Ruth Ann
• Stacey Durant] - Sheryl
• Troy Warren - Little Earl
• Jimmy Hayeson - Mr. Herbert

Feature film production

• Directed by Ossie Davis
  Ossie Davis
  Ossie Davis was an American film actor, director, poet, playwright, writer, and social activist.-Early years:...
  
  
• Producer: Lee Savin
• Executive Producer: Robert Greenberg
• Distributed by Cinerama Releasing Corporation
• Opened: November 9, 1972 in New York City
  New York
  New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
  
  

Cast

• Brock Peters
  Brock Peters
  Brock Peters was an American actor, best known for playing the role of Tom Robinson in the 1962 film To Kill a Mockingbird...
  
   - Earl
• Claudia McNeil
  Claudia McNeil
  Claudia McNeil was an American actress known for premiering the role of matriarch Lena Younger in both the stage and screen productions of A Raisin in the Sun. She later appeared in a 1981 production of the musical version of the play, Raisin presented by Equity Library Theater...
  
   - Mu'Dear
• Leslie Uggams
  Leslie Uggams
  Leslie Uggams is an American actress and singer, perhaps best known for her work in Hallelujah, Baby! She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.-Singing:...
  
   - Netta
• Louise Stubbs - Mama Rose
• Peggy Pettit - Billie Jean
• Gloria Edwards - Norma
• Loretta Greene - Ruth Ann
• Ruby Dee
  Ruby Dee
  Ruby Dee is an American actress, poet, playwright, screenwriter, journalist, and activist, perhaps best known for co-starring in the film A Raisin in the Sun and the film American Gangster for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.-Early years:Dee was born Ruby...
  
  - Netta's Mother
• Kent Martin - Herbert

Other productions

The New Federal Theatre produced a revival of the play during their 1995-96 season. This production was staged by Anderson Johnson.

On Thursday, May 21, 2009 Black Girl was presented by Legros Cultural Arts in New York City.

External links

• Salisbury Post review of play