Leading theater while Black: Sheldon Epps on fighting the medium's long-standing whiteness
Sheldon Epps became the first Black person to lead a major theater in Southern California when the Pasadena Playhouse appointed him artistic director. At the time, he was one of a handful of Black artists in the country to hold such a position. The distinction, says Epps, was an honor imbued with great difficulty.
Epps is heartened to see this activism — in fact, the modern movement is part of what inspired him to write his memoir in the first place. With it, he wanted to let young Black artists know that they are not alone and that they can succeed. Still, he says it’s frustrating to recognize his struggle reflected in so many people’s experiences more than a quarter of a century later.
Tremendous strides have been made, he says, but the art form is still “fighting a long tradition of the American theater as a White institution, and the power in the American theater, both commercially and in the not-for-profit world, being in the hands of the White establishment.” Epps speaks from experience. When he first arrived at Pasadena Playhouse, an alt-weekly called City Paper published an inflammatory piece of commentary titled “Theatre of the Absurd,” which began with the line, “Sheldon Epps may be just the man to bring new flavors to Pasadena, a town known mostly for its vanilla.”
The choice to devote himself to the art form came as he submerged himself in the magic of Broadway during high school — when he wasn’t busy acting in school plays, he regularly took the bus to Manhattan to see as many shows as he could. He was later accepted into the elite theater program at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
“In the way that term is used and interpreted in our field it is, by intention or not, demeaning and intended to be diminishing of one’s abilities,” Epps writes. “The fact is that I have never heard my colleagues of the lighter hue described as White directors.”
France Dernières Nouvelles, France Actualités
Similar News:Vous pouvez également lire des articles d'actualité similaires à celui-ci que nous avons collectés auprès d'autres sources d'information.
Sheldon Epps from director to authorThis Black History Month, we want to highlight Sheldon Epps, an accomplished theater and television director turned author.
Lire la suite »
Sheldon Gets Outsmarted In New Young Sheldon Season 6 Episode 11 ClipAhead of Young Sheldon's return, a new clip shows him getting outsmarted.
Lire la suite »
Try one of these Black-owned eateries during Black History MonthHere are a few restaurants we're inclined to over-order delicious food from, regardless of the month.
Lire la suite »
Perspective | Blocking Black history is an attempt to counter Black PowerPerspective: African American studies exists to empower Black students and all who oppose white supremacy
Lire la suite »
Black History Month Begins With Reflections on Black AmericaFebruary is Black History Month, and outlets are publishing reflections on black history and commentaries on the current state of civil rights efforts. See perspectives and analysis across the spectrum from CNNOpinion, nypost, and axios:
Lire la suite »
Black History Month: MFAH celebrates films by Black women this weekendThe Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's Black History Month film series, 'Through the Lens of African-American Women,' runs Friday through Sunday.
Lire la suite »