Van Scott, Glory

Glory Van Scott is an actress, dancer, singer, published playwright and author. A graduate of Goddard College, Vermont (B.A., M.A.), she was awarded a Ph. D. in education and theater arts from the Antioch Union Graduate School, Ohio. She is a former principal dancer with Katherine Dunham, Agnes DeMille and Talley Beatty companies and has performed in the United States and internationally, appearing in Broadway and Off-Broadway shows and on television.

Van Scott has served as director, producer, choreographer, and wrote and composed eight musicals including "Miss Truth" as well as children's theatrical productions and children's books. Her works have been produced in New York and Washington. Additionally, she was executive coordinator for Channel Thirteen's "Dance in America" series program on Katherine Dunham, and produced "An Evening of Spirituals" at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall for six years beginning in 1994. From 1974-1984 Van Scott was a professor of theater at Bucknell University's Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Arts. In 1984 she founded the Dr. Glory's Children's Theatre at the New York Society for Ethical Culture, which is an international, inter-racial, intercultural, multi-ethnic non-profit children's theater.

Producer, performer, educator, and civic activist, Glory Van Scott, was born in Chicago, Illinois, June 1, 1947. Van Scott's parents, Dr. and Ms. Thomas Van Scott, were raised near Greenwood, Mississippi and shared some Choctaw and Seminole ancestry. The trauma of Van Scott's cousin Emmett Till's murder in 1955 did not diminish the benefit of the art, dance, and drama classes at The Abraham Lincoln Center, where she met Paul Robeson and Charity Bailey. Van Scott spent summers in Ethical Culture Camp in New York. A student at Oakland Elementary School and Dunbar High School, Van Scott finished high school at Ethical Culture High School in New York City.

That summer at the Society for Ethical Culture's Encampment for Citizenship, Cicely Tyson referred Van Scott to actress Vinette Carroll, who mentored Van Scott in theatrical arts. Soon Van Scott was moving easily between modeling for the Wilhelmina Agency and performing; a principal dancer with the Katherine Dunham, Agnes DeMille, and Talley Beatty dance companies, she also joined the American Ballet Company. Van Scott appeared on Broadway inHouse of Flowers, with Pearl Bailey in 1954;Kwaminain 1961;The Great White Hopein 1968;Billy No-Namein 1970; andRhythms of the Saintsin 2003. Van Scott played the Rolls Royce Lady in 1974's film,The Wiz.

While pursuing her career in the performing arts, Van Scott earned her B.A. and M.A. degrees from Goddard College, and her Ph.D. from Antioch College's Union Graduate School. For ten years Van Scott taught theater at Bucknell University's Pennsylvania School for the Arts, and, later, Theater As Social Change at Fordham University. Van Scott became a Breadloaf Writers Scholar and the author of eight musicals including Miss Truth. Van Scott founded Dr. Glory's Youth Theatre. Lipincott published Van Scott's first children's book,Baba and the Flea.

Van Scott served as coordinator for WNET'sDance in America - Katherine Dunham: Devine Drum Beatsin 2000, and producedThe Katherine Dunham Galaat Carnegie Hall, and the 2003Tribute to Fred Benjaminat Symphony Space. Van Scott was also project director and artistic coordinator for the Alvin Ailey Company'sThe Magic of Katherine Dunhamand co-producer of the National Black Touring Circuit, with Woodie King, Jr. ofNew York Dance Divas. Van Scott, immortalized in bronze by Elizabeth Catlett in 1981, was awarded the first Katherine Dunham Legacy Award in 2002.