Urban Arts Corps (New York, N.Y.)

Urban Arts Corps (UAC) was founded in 1967 by Vinnette Carroll, actor and director, who served as the company's premiere artistic director. It began as a pilot project of the Ghetto Arts Program of the New York State Council on the Arts. Carrol established the UAC in response to a request from John B. Hightower, the executive director of the Council.

The objectives of the creators was to: provide youth in ghetto areas with direct collaborative experiences with performing artists who shared the youths' social and cultural heritage; aid in the development of work techniques; introduce ghetto youth to materials, organizations and artists that would enhance and improve their self image; stimulate and assist in the development of young artists in disadvantaged areas; and stimulate interest in professional and educational opportunities in the arts.

Charged with the phrase "Black is Beautiful" the Urban Arts Corps sought to provide accessible art for blacks, Puerto Rican, and culturally under-served urban communities and to nurture the talents of Corps members. Another goal of UAC was to develop a major repertory company that produced new, classical and relevant plays of enduring value by black playwrights and major playwrights that were within the mission of the company. The latter goal resulted in the production of several new and classical plays on and off Broadway, which also toured major cities in New York State. Among these were productions of "But Never Jam Today," "Old Judge Moses is Dead," "Moon on a Rainbow Shawl" (1969-1970); "Don't Bother Me," "I Can't Cope," "Croesus," "Step Lively Boy," "Defiant Island," "The Files" (1972-1973); "Your Arms Too Short to Box with God," " Theo" (1975-1976); and "Alice" and "When Hell Freezes Over I'll Skate" (1978-1979). "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope" and "Your Arms Too Short to Box with God" were the Corps most successful and popular plays, and continue to be performed twenty years later. The formal closure of the UAC is not documented in the collection.

The Urban Arts Corps (UAC), a theater group, was founded by actress-director Vinnette Carroll in l967 who served as the company's artistic director. The Corps emerged as a pilot project of the Ghetto Arts Program which was sponsored by the New York State Council of the Arts. Initially its members were African-American and Puerto Rican youth, but by the third season UAC became multi-racial. Among the objectives of UAC was to stimulate an interest in the arts by providing outdoor performances in under-served urban communities, and to also develop a major repertory company that produced new plays by black playwrights.

During the 1972-1973 season, UAC premiered its most successful musical, "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope." This production was later picked up by Broadway where it was directed by Vinnette Carroll, making her one of the first women to direct a Broadway show. In the 1975-1976 season, UAC produced "Your Arms Too Short to Box with God" which also later moved to Broadway. Both of these plays continue to be performed since they were first introduced more than 25 years ago.

The date of the dissolution of UAC is unknown. Until the late 1990s, Carroll was the artistic director of the Vinnette Carroll Repertory Company, a church affiliated theater built in Carroll's honor and located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Urban Arts Corps (UAC) was founded in 1967 by Vinnette Carroll, actor and director, who served as the company's premiere artistic director. It began as a pilot project of the Ghetto Arts Program of the New York State Council on the Arts. Carrol established the UAC in response to a request from John B. Hightower, the executive director of the Council.

The objectives of the creators was to: provide youth in ghetto areas with direct collaborative experiences with performing artists who shared the youths' social and cultural heritage; aid in the development of work techniques; introduce ghetto youth to materials, organizations and artists that would enhance and improve their self image; stimulate and assist in the development of young artists in disadvantaged areas; and stimulate interest in professional and educational opportunities in the arts.

Charged with the phrase "Black is Beautiful" the Urban Arts Corps sought to provide accessible art for blacks, Puerto Rican, and culturally under-served urban communities and to nurture the talents of Corps members. Another goal of UAC was to develop a major repertory company that produced new, classical and relevant plays of enduring value by black playwrights and major playwrights that were within the mission of the company. The latter goal resulted in the production of several new and classical plays on and off Broadway, which also toured major cities in New York State. Among these were productions of "But Never Jam Today," "Old Judge Moses is Dead," "Moon on a Rainbow Shawl" (1969-1970); "Don't Bother Me," "I Can't Cope," "Croesus," "Step Lively Boy," "Defiant Island," "The Files" (1972-1973); "Your Arms Too Short to Box with God," " Theo" (1975-1976); and "Alice" and "When Hell Freezes Over I'll Skate" (1978-1979). "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope" and "Your Arms Too Short to Box with God" were the Corps most successful and popular plays, and continue to be performed twenty years later. The formal closure of the UAC is not documented in the collection.