Negro Ensemble Company

The Negro Ensemble Company (NEC) was a black repertory company that presented works on social themes that were germane to black life and expanded opportunities for experienced black theatre artists. NEC was founded in 1967 by actor/playwright Douglas Turner Ward, actor Robert Hooks and theatre administrator Gerald Krone, with a $434,000 grant from the Ford Foundation. The company offered professional training to potential new talent and for a brief time had a training company for both actors and technicians, thus promoting black professionals in front of and behind the scenes.

The original NEC resident company included among its ranks Esther Rolle, Rosalind Cash, Hattie Winston, Moses Gunn, and Denise Nicholas. The Playwrights' Workshop trained and honed the writing skills of many playwrights, among them Charles Fuller ("A Soldier's Story"); Lonnie Elder, III ("Ceremonies in Dark Old Men"); Samm-Art Williams ("Home"); Derek Walcott ("Dream on Monkey Mountain"); and Steve Carter ("Nevis Mountain Dew").

The company formally inaugurated its first season in 1967-1968, with Peter Weiss' "Song of the Lusitanian Bogey," followed by "Summer of the Seventeenth Doll" by Ray Lawler, "Kongi's Harvest" by Wole Soyinka, and "Daddy Goodness" by Richard Wright. These plays were produced at NEC's first home theatre, St. Mark's Playhouse. In 1969, the company made its international debut during the World Theatre Season in London, England. That same year they also performed at Italy's "Premio Roma" Festival where they were awarded the "Premio Roma Award for Artistic Excellence and Production" for "Song of the Lusitanian Bogey." Throughout their existence, NEC's most popular productions such as "Ceremonies in Dark Old Men," "Home," and "Colored People's Time," either moved to Broadway and/or toured nationally and internationally.

"A Soldier's Play" was the most successful production mounted by the company. The property was also made into a film titled "A Soldier's Story" in 1984, starring Denzel Washington and Adolph Caesar, who originated his role on Broadway. NEC also brought several of their productions to television including "Sty of the Blind Pig," by Philip Hayes Dean, (PBS, 1974); "Ceremonies in Dark Old Men," by Lonnie Elder, III (ABC-TV, 1975); and "First Breeze of Summer," by Leslie Lee, (PBS, 1976).

Despite box office successes, by the mid '80's losses in earned and contributed revenue led to an extreme drop off in activity. The 1986-1987 season was suspended and by the '90's the company's production schedule was severely reduced.

Nevertheless the Negro Ensemble Company was the most successful black theatrical company in the United States. It was the recipient of over 40 major theatre awards, including a Pulitzer Prize, two Tony Awards, thirteen Obie Awards and the NAACP Image Award. Their most substantial contribution to the theatrical field was helping to train or launch the careers of dozens of actors, playwrights, directors and other theatrical professionals, many of whom achieved success, such as Denzel Washington, Samuel Jackson and Charles Fuller. From 1967 to 1992, the NEC produced over 200 productions which includes full-length and one-act plays, and playwriting workshops.

From the description of Negro Ensemble Company records, 1967-1993. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122455120

The Negro Ensemble Company (NEC) was a black repertory company that presented works on social themes that were germane to black life and expanded opportunities for experienced black theatre artists. NEC was founded in 1967 by actor/playwright Douglas Turner Ward, actor Robert Hooks and theatre administrator Gerald Krone, with a $434,000 grant from the Ford Foundation. The company offered professional training to potential new talent and for a brief time had a training company for both actors and technicians, thus promoting black professionals in front of and behind the scenes.

The original NEC resident company included among its ranks Esther Rolle, Rosalind Cash, Hattie Winston, Moses Gunn, and Denise Nicholas. The Playwrights' Workshop trained and honed the writing skills of many playwrights, among them Charles Fuller ("A Soldier's Story"); Lonnie Elder, III ("Ceremonies in Dark Old Men"); Samm-Art Williams ("Home"); Derek Walcott ("Dream on Monkey Mountain"); and Steve Carter ("Nevis Mountain Dew").

The company formally inaugurated its first season in 1967-1968, with Peter Weiss' "Song of the Lusitanian Bogey," followed by "Summer of the Seventeenth Doll" by Ray Lawler, "Kongi's Harvest" by Wole Soyinka, and "Daddy Goodness" by Richard Wright. These plays were produced at NEC's first home theatre, St. Mark's Playhouse. In 1969, the company made its international debut during the World Theatre Season in London, England. That same year they also performed at Italy's "Premio Roma" Festival where they were awarded the "Premio Roma Award for Artistic Excellence and Production" for "Song of the Lusitanian Bogey." Throughout their existence, NEC's most popular productions such as "Ceremonies in Dark Old Men," "Home," and "Colored People's Time," either moved to Broadway and/or toured nationally and internationally.

"A Soldier's Play" was the most successful production mounted by the company. The property was also made into a film titled "A Soldier's Story" in 1984, starring Denzel Washington and Adolph Caesar, who originated his role on Broadway. NEC also brought several of their productions to television including "Sty of the Blind Pig," by Philip Hayes Dean, (PBS, 1974); "Ceremonies in Dark Old Men," by Lonnie Elder, III (ABC-TV, 1975); and "First Breeze of Summer," by Leslie Lee, (PBS, 1976).

Despite box office successes, by the mid '80's losses in earned and contributed revenue led to an extreme drop off in activity. The 1986-1987 season was suspended and by the '90's the company's production schedule was severely reduced.

Nevertheless the Negro Ensemble Company was the most successful black theatrical company in the United States. It was the recipient of over 40 major theatre awards, including a Pulitzer Prize, two Tony Awards, thirteen Obie Awards and the NAACP Image Award. Their most substantial contribution to the theatrical field was helping to train or launch the careers of dozens of actors, playwrights, directors and other theatrical professionals, many of whom achieved success, such as Denzel Washington, Samuel Jackson and Charles Fuller. From 1967 to 1992, the NEC produced over 200 productions which includes full-length and one-act plays, and playwriting workshops.

From the guide to the Negro Ensemble Company records, 1967-1993, (The New York Public Library. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division.)