PROJECT 1
Arena Players and the impact it has had on the African American acting community
Arena Players is the oldest African American theater in the United States. It started in 1953; before the Black Arts Movement. The theatre troupe was started by Samuel H. Wilson, Jimmie Bell, Irvin Turner, Bernard Byrd, Doris Dilver, Arthur Thurgood, Joe Wilson and Julius Wilson at Coppin State University. The first production the troupe did was "Hello Out There!" After they first showed "Hello Out There!" the theater was a massive success. They did productions written by famous playwrights including Langston Hughes. In 1969, the theatre troupe moved to 801 McCulloh St, Baltimore. The theatre troupe remains there to this day. Arena Players is now up to their 70th season. Despite the fact that Arena Players is the oldest African American theater in the United States, they aren't as well known other theaters like American Negro Theatre.