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| The River Niger | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Joseph A. Walker |
| Date premiered | 05 December 1972 |
| Place premiered | Negro Ensemble Company St. Mark's Playhouse New York City |
| Original language | English |
| Subject | a son returns home not the hero and militant anticipated |
| Genre | Drama |
| Setting | Harlem, New York, present day |
The River Niger is a play by Joseph A. Walker, first performed by New York City's Negro Ensemble Company off-Broadway in 1972. The production made its Broadway debut with a transfer to the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on 27 March 1973 for a run of 162 performances. Titled after the West African river, The River Niger sits squarely with the African centered aspirations of the Black Arts Movement.
Characters
- Mattie Williams
- Johnny Williams
- Dr. Dudley Stanton
- Jeff Williams
- Ann Vanderguild
- Big Moe Hayes
- Al
- Chips
- Skeeter
- Gail
- Wilhelmina Brown
Adaptations
Main article: The River Niger (film)The play was adapted by Walker for film in 1976, directed by Krishna Shah starring Cicely Tyson and James Earl Jones.
Awards and nominations
Awards
- 1973 Drama Desk Award for Most Promising Playwright – Joseph A. Walker
- 1973 Obie Award for Best American Play
- 1974 Tony Award for Best Play
Nominations
- 1974 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play – Douglas Turner Ward
- 1974 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play – Roxie Roker
External links
- The River Niger at the Internet Broadway Database The River Niger play
- Original Off-Broadway Production
- The River Niger at the Internet Broadway Database Original Broadway Production
- The River Niger (1976 film) at IMDb
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