The African Tragedian

By Robin Scott Peters

Ira Aldridge, America's earliest important Black actor, became one of the most celebrated Shakespearean actors of nineteenth century Europe. This dramatic montage traces the joyous moment that performance can bring and the hurtful reality of being Black during racial slavery.

This "Docudrama" was developed from actual letters, reviews, and photographs detailing the life and times of Ira Frederick Aldridge: aka "The African Tragedian."

In a style akin to episodic dream fragmentation--Robin Scott Peters has sculpted a layered reality of one actor paying homage to another.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robin Scott Peters
• Release date: Feb 17, 2012
• ISBN: 9781465868121

Robin Scott Peters

Dr. Robin Scott Peters is a graduate from UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television where he received his doctorate in Theory and Criticism in Theater. This collection of poetry is a first of three volumes of work to catalogue over three decades of creation. Robin writes in numerous genres. His stage play "The African Tragedian" captures the life of famed 19th Century African American Shakespearean actor Ira Frederick Aldridge. Robin's historical narrative "Multicultural Theater in Los Angeles During the Early 1990s" focus is on defining the thriving ethnic theater scene in Los Angeles that fed Hollywood many of its "stars." Robin was raised in Falmouth, Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

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The African Tragedian

Robin Scott Peters

Published by

Robin Scott Peters at Smashwords

Copywright 2012 Robin Scott Peters

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Playwright's Notes:

At the end of summer 1994 I was contacted by the College Eight Student Activities Council at the University of California, Santa Cruz. They had read an article in the San Francisco Chronicle concerning my work with Midnight Basketball Program conducted within inner-city Oakland, California neighborhoods. The program called Shakespeare in the Hood offered acting workshops to the youth along with the basketball component -- using Shakespeare's characters struggling with issues the youth struggle on a daily basis. I was contracted by UCSanta Cruz to develop a presentation for their Black History Month celebration. At the time of the contract I was completing class work on my doctorate at UCLA, and had recently been introduced to the 19th century African American Shakespearean actor and historical figure Ira Frederick Aldridge. I was mesmerized by this young man's quest to find freedom -- not only the freedom from racial hatred -- but also freedom to express himself artistically. I call this piece a historical docudrama because through my research on Aldridge I gathered actual accounts