
Black Theater Artists to Explore: Beyond the Famous
Black Theater Artists to Explore: Beyond the Famous It’s February — and if you’re like many drama teachers, you’re balancing packed schedules while trying to make Black History Month meaningful
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Hello! I’m so glad you stopped by. Here’s my scoop: I’m a very experienced drama teacher (38 years), play and musical director (ditto), and award winning author. Here you’ll find many posts on theater education, directing, the arts, plus advice and tips for teachers. I am a “rock star” grandma, happily married wife, loving mother to two swell daughters and a great step son. Oh yeah, and I’m a published author and handmaiden to my cat who demanded I tell you this.
Dhcbaldwin@gmail.com. DeborahBaldwin.net
In high school, I had a fan girl crush on John Boy of “The Waltons” television show. For me, part of the mystique of the show was the Depression Era, in which the show was set. Admittedly, life was simpler then for various reasons. People were hard pressed for money and ways to escape the daily reminders of life. Radio was an inexpensive outlet and most households owned some sort of radio.
I was the youngest child in a family of six. There are ten years difference between me and the next youngest sibling. I yearned for a family like the Waltons. I fantasized my whole family sitting around the radio listening to a radio theater show.
Little did I know that in its own gentle way, “The Waltons” birthed my love of radio theatre and not John Boy.
Beatrice thinks she has no acting talent but that doesn’t stop her from auditioning for the annual middle school play. Easy! Except Michiko, a new girl from Japan, shows up and ruins everything! So begins Beatrice’s diabolical and hilarious plan to scare away Michiko. But Michiko has goals of her own with no plans to leave soon. Then there’s that other girl who is such a blabbermouth. What’s a girl to do? Plenty. A great book for those who love theater and every part of it–the good, the bad and the crazy.

Black Theater Artists to Explore: Beyond the Famous It’s February — and if you’re like many drama teachers, you’re balancing packed schedules while trying to make Black History Month meaningful

I’ve taught drama long enough to see the pattern—students come alive during movement, voice, and collaboration, but hesitate when it’s time to open a book or dig into background research.

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