A special issue of New Theatre. This ‘Negro Number’ includes an interview with the legend Paul Robeson while in Moscow; Langston Hughes on Black Washington D.C. and the city’s theaters; Robert Stebbins on Hollywood’s already long history of racist representation in 1935; Augustus Smithwith a fascinating, sordid history of Black minstrelry; Rowena Jeliffe looks at a Black community theater in Cleveland, Ohio, the Gilpin Players; Herbert Kline offers scenes from his ‘John Henry’; and Eugene Gordon with an essay on the history of Black stage presence in the U.S. For all those interested in Black arts history, this issue is a must.

New Theatre. Vol. 2 No. 7. July, 1935. ‘Negro Number.’

Contents: Editorials, I Breathe Freely by Paul Robeson, Trouble with Angels by Langston Hughes, Imitation of Life by Robert Stebbins, On the White Man’s Stage by Augustus Smith, A Negro Community Theatre by Rowena Woodham Jeliffe, Scenes from ‘John Henry’ by Herbert Kine, Uncles Tom’s Cabin to Stevedore by Eugene Gordon, Negro Players in Southern Theatres by J.O. Bailey, Nuthin’ But Brass by Edwin Rolfe, Martha Graham by Edna Ocko, Correspondence, Boycott Hearst Films by Louise Gordon, The Young Go First, ‘Brin ‘Em In On Stretchers!,’ Two Prize Play Contests, The Dance Festival.

The New Theatre continued Workers Theatre. Workers Theatre began in New York City in 1931 as the publication of The Workers Laboratory Theatre collective, an agitprop group associated with Workers International Relief, becoming the League of Workers Theaters, section of the International Union of Revolutionary Theatre of the Comintern. The rough production values of the first years were replaced by a color magazine as it became primarily associated with the New Theatre. It contains a wealth of left cultural history and ideas. Published roughly monthly were Workers Theater from April 1931-July/Aug 1933, New Theatre from Sept/Oct 1933-November 1937, New Theater and Film from April and March of 1937, (only two issues).

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/workers-theatre/v2n07-jul-1935-New-Theatre.pdf