People, Locations, Episodes

Mon, 12.11.196111

‘Black Nativity’ Debuts on Broadway

Vinyl recording

On this date in 1961, 'Black Nativity' opened on Broadway. Langston Hughes’ self-described “gospel song play” was staged at New York City's Lincoln Theater.

The Christmas story performed in dialog, narrative, pantomime, a gospel song, and folk spirituals expresses Hughes' late-in-life interest in African American spirituality and the oral traditions of the African American church.

Reference:

All Music.com

Encyclopedia of African American Culture and History
Volume 1, ISBN #0-02-897345-3, Pg 175
Jack Salzman, David Lionel Smith, Cornel West

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