Plays
Joyce Carol Thomas wrote several plays. Some, like When The Nightingale Sings and A Mother's Heart are adaptations of her novels and poetry. Her early plays sit in the heart of the burgeoning Black theatre scene of California's Bay Area featuring collaborations with Maya Angelou, Emory Douglas, and singer Odetta.
Ms. Thomas also wrote plays and screenplays, that have not yet been produced. As the scripts are recovered, I hope to include information about them below.
Plays (Selected)
-
Look! What a Wonder! (1976)
-
This two-act play was produced in Berkeley, CA, at Berkeley Community Theatre, 1976. It starred the famous singer Odetta and was directed by Maya Angelou.
-
-
A Song in the Sky (1976)
-
This work's poster featured the work of artist Emory Douglas known for creating the iconic imagery for The Black Panthers.
-
-
Magnolia (1977)
-
A musical about a young
black woman singer trying to break in the recording business.
-
-
Ambrosia (1978)
-
Gospel Roots (1981)
-
Sing Anyway (1988)
-
A play with acapella music written with South African theatre director and playwright Selaelo Maredi.
-
-
I Have Heard of a Land (1989)
-
When the Nightingale Sings (1991)
-
This musical adaptation of Thomas' novel was composed by Steven Roberts and starred Tina Fabrique (Reading Rainbow theme song singer) as Queen Mother Rhythm.
-
-
A Mother's Heart (2001)
-
Madam (Not Produced)
-
A two woman show listed as "the dramatic rise of Sarah Breedlove, washwoman, to Madam C. J. Walker, first African-American millionaire."
-
