J. E. Franklin
Encyclopedia
J. E. Franklin is an American
playwright, best known for her play, Black Girl
, which was later made into a 1972 feature film.
to Robert Franklin and Mathie Randle. Ms. Franklin has written several plays, but is best known for Black Girl
. It was originally produced by public television station WGBH
, Boston in 1969. It was staged off-Broadway
in 1971 by Shauneille Perry at the New Federal Theatre. Franklin subsequently received a Drama Desk Award
for most promising playwright. Her feature film adaptation of the play was released in 1972.
Her first play to receive a major stage production was Mau Mau Room, which was also directed by Shauneille Perry. It was produced at the Negro Ensemble Company, just prior to Black Girl.
Other plays by Franklin include The In-Crowd, Prodigal Daughter and Cut Out the Lights and Call the Law. Prodigal Daughter was adapted into a musical entitled, Prodigal Sister which was produced by the Negro Ensemble Company
in 1974.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
playwright, best known for her play, Black Girl
Black Girl (play)
Black Girl is a play by American playwright J. E. Franklin. It was first produced on public television in 1969, followed by an off-Broadway production in 1971. It was later adapted by the playwright as a feature film that was released the following year....
, which was later made into a 1972 feature film.
Biography
She was born Jennie Elizabeth Franklin in Houston, TexasHouston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
to Robert Franklin and Mathie Randle. Ms. Franklin has written several plays, but is best known for Black Girl
Black Girl (play)
Black Girl is a play by American playwright J. E. Franklin. It was first produced on public television in 1969, followed by an off-Broadway production in 1971. It was later adapted by the playwright as a feature film that was released the following year....
. It was originally produced by public television station WGBH
WGBH-TV
WGBH-TV, channel 2, is a non-commercial educational public television station located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. WGBH-TV is a member station of the Public Broadcasting Service , and produces more than two-thirds of PBS's national prime time television programming...
, Boston in 1969. It was staged 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...
in 1971 by Shauneille Perry at the New Federal Theatre. Franklin subsequently received a Drama Desk Award
Drama Desk Award
The Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
for most promising playwright. Her feature film adaptation of the play was released in 1972.
Her first play to receive a major stage production was Mau Mau Room, which was also directed by Shauneille Perry. It was produced at the Negro Ensemble Company, just prior to Black Girl.
Other plays by Franklin include The In-Crowd, Prodigal Daughter and Cut Out the Lights and Call the Law. Prodigal Daughter was adapted into a musical entitled, Prodigal Sister which was produced by the Negro Ensemble Company
Negro Ensemble Company
The Negro Ensemble Company is a New York City-based theater company. Established in 1967 by playwright Douglas Turner Ward, producer/actor Robert Hooks, and theater manager Gerald S...
in 1974.