Research Catalog

Title

Urban Arts Corps records, 1955-1983.

Author

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

Supplementary Content

Finding Aid

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Carroll, Vinnette.
• Urban Arts Corps.

Description

1.5 linear ft.

Summary

The Urban Arts Corps records consists of the production records for plays produced by UAC from 1967-1983 (bulk dates 1972-1979), and a separate body of material relating to Vinnette Carroll. The material has been divided into two series: Production Files and Vinnette Carroll. The Production Files contain an assortment of material; however, there is not every kind of material for each production. A sample of the file contents include cast lists, contracts, correspondence, director's notes, new releases, programs, reviews, and scripts. The second series documents Carroll's professional activities in the theater prior to her becoming the founding director of the Urban Arts Corp. Included are materials regarding her career as an actor and a director.

Donor/Sponsor

Schomburg NEH Blacks on Stage: African-American Theater Arts Collections Project.

Subject

• Urban Arts Corps (New York, N.Y.)
• African American theatrical producers and directors
• African Americans in the performing arts
• Theatrical producers and directors
• African American actresses
• Actresses
• African Americans > Societies, etc
• African American theater
• Theater > New York (State) > New York
• Theatrical companies > New York (State) > New York

Genre/Form

• Scripts.
• Theater programs.
• Business records.

Source (note)

• Urban Arts Corps

Biography (note)

• 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.

Indexes/Finding Aids (note)

• Finding aid available.

Processing Action (note)

• Processed
• Cataloged

OCLC

NYPW00-A193

Author

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

Title

Urban Arts Corps records, 1955-1983.

Biography

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.

Indexes

Finding aid available.

Connect to:

Finding Aid

Added Author

Carroll, Vinnette.

Urban Arts Corps.