Joseph A. Walker (playwright)
Joseph A. Walker | |
---|---|
Born | Washington, D.C., U.S. | February 24, 1935
Died | January 25, 2003 | (aged 67)
Resting place | Lincoln Memorial Cemetery |
Occupation | Playwright, director, screenwriter, educator |
Spouse | Barbara A. Walker (1957–1965) Dorothy Ann Dinroe-Walker (1970–her death in 1995) |
Joseph Alexander Walker (February 24, 1935 – January 25, 2003) was an American playwright and screenwriter, theater director, actor and professor. He is best known for writing
Biography
Walker was born in
Walker was one of the first African Americans, along with Lorraine Hansberry, to be nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play, which he won for The River Niger. His efforts and talents drew him critical acclaim at the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC), with Douglas Turner Ward as the artistic director. The River Niger's run was one of the NEC's longest consecutive runs. Other works include the drama District Line, Yin-Yang, The Harangues (Tribal Harangue 1, 2, and 3), The Lion is a Soul Brother, Out of the Ashes, Absolution of Willie Mae, Koulaba D. Haiti,[2] and the musical King Buddy Bolden.[1]
Early life
Walker met his first wife, Barbara Ann, in philosophy class; they were married in September 1957. That same year Walker entered the Air Force, going first to
Walker's time in the Air Force is significant because the main character from
He taught at Spingarn High School in Washington, D.C., from 1963 to 1965 as an English/drama teacher.
Artistic career
Walker then began the pursuit of an acting career In 1966. He began studying voice and vocal reproduction from Brook Alexander and at the end of that year joined Voices, Inc. He remained narrator, lead singer, and artistic director of this organization until The Believers was produced in 1968. The Believers was co-authored by Walker and Josephine Jackson.
From 1969 to 1975, he taught at
Wanting to create his own theatre company, Walker became the artistic director of the Demi-Gods. The Demi-Gods was co-founded with his wife Dinroe-Walker between 1970 and 1974. In 1971–72, Walker and Dinroe-Walker co-produced Yin-Yang at the African American Studio. In 1972–73, Douglas Turner Ward went into production for
Walker received 400 hours towards a Motion Picture Production Certificate received at the
Later life
Walker spent his last years continuing his writings while maintaining full tenure at Rutgers University's Camden, N.J., campus, where he was chair of the theater arts department. He is survived by his five children Michael Walker, Steven Walker, Kumina Walker, Nandi Walker, and Jodoa Walker. Walker's youngest son, Kamau Walker, predeceased him in 2001.
Awards and accomplishments
- Tony Award for Best Play for The River Niger, 1974
- Represented American Playwrights at seminar in Salzburg Austria
- Received the Guggenheim Award, 1973–74
- Antoinette Perry Awardfor best play of 1974
- Elizabeth-Kate Warriner Award
- First Annual Audelco Award
- Outer Critic's Circle, John Gassner Playwrighting Award
- The Obie Award
- Drama Desk Award
- Black Rose
- Professor of Theatre at Howard University, teaching advanced playwriting and advanced theatre, 1976–89
- Drama Department Chair the Duke Ellington School of Performing Arts held concurrently with Howard University professorship, 1978–79
- American College Theatre Award for best director and set design on Antigone Africanus produced at Howard University, 1978
- Recipient of the Rockefeller Foundation's Playwrights Award, 1978 (for The Absolution of Willie Mae)
- Maryland State Arts Council Award for The Two Real Coons, 1980
- Wrote, directed and choreographed A Proper Zulu Man and King Kong at His Majesty's Theatre, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1979–80
- Co-Authored screenplay BOP for Dustin Hoffman and Michael Camino (Columbia Pictures), 1984–85
- Living Legend Award, 1995
- Worked with Rutgers University, Camden City Board of Education and Cynthia Primas to launch what is now the Creative Arts High School, 1998
- Theatre Arts chairman and Director of African American Studies at Rutgers University Camden, 1989–2003
References
- ^ a b c d Jones, Kenneth (2003-01-31). "Joseph A. Walker, Tony-Winning Playwright of The River Niger, Dead at 67". Playbill. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
- ^ Rich, Frank (1984-12-05). "Stage: 'District Line,' From Negro Ensemble". The New York Times.