Joseph A. Walker (playwright)

Joseph A. Walker

Walker during his brief acting career
Born (1935-02-24)February 24, 1935
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Died January 25, 2003(2003-01-25)
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[1]) was an American playwright and screenwriter, theater director, actor and professor. He is best known for writing The River Niger, a three-act play that was originally produced Off-Broadway in 1972 by the Negro Ensemble Company, before being transferred to Broadway in 1973 and then adapted into a 1976 film of the same name starring James Earl Jones and Cicely Tyson.[1] In 1974, Walker became the first African-American writer to win the Tony Award, being honored for The River Niger. The playwright previously won an Obie Award during that play's 1972–73 Off-Broadway run.[2]

Biography

Walker was born in Washington, D.C, to Joseph A. Walker and Florine G. Johnson. He earned an undergraduate degree in Philosophy from Howard University and completed all requirements except the thesis for a Masters in Philosophy. In 1957, he entered the Air Force as a Second Lieutenant and later received a Master of Fine Arts degree in Drama from Catholic University. In his later years, he taught Drama at Howard University and served as chairman of the Theater Department at Rutgers University.[1]

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,[3] 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 San Antonio, Texas, and then to Harlingen Air Force Base before serving as First Lieutenant, 2nd in command of 350 Airmen of the 42nd Supply Squadron. In 1958–60, while stationed at Loring Air Force Base, Walker became founder and artistic director of Pine Tree Theatre Guild. During that time, his first son, Michael Alexander Walker, was born. Walker's second son, Steven Martin Walker, was born in 1962; that same year, Walker was discharged and decided to pursue an MFA in Theatre with a minor in Elizabethan Drama at Catholic University. During this time, Barbara Walker pursued her law degree.

Walker's time in the Air Force is significant because the main character from The River Niger, Jeff Williams, was also discharged from the Air Force. The Williams character also makes references to symbolically asking everyone at the Air Force base to let go of my toe. Barbara Walker has stated that The River Niger may be semi-autobiographical.

He taught at Spingarn High School in Washington D.C. from 1963 to 1965 as an English/Drama teacher.

Artistic career

He 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.

In 1969 to 1975, he taught at CCNY Leonard Davis Center of Performing Arts. as an associate professor in the Speech and Theatre Department. Also in 1969 he met Moses Gun who introduced him to Douglas Turner Ward, the Artistic director of The Negro Ensemble Company (NEC), which led to the production of The Harangues, opening the 1969–70 season. Ododo, which Walker wrote, directed and co-choreographed opened with mixed reviews in the 1970–71 season at NEC, whose music was composed and directed by his second wife Dorothy Ann Dinroe-Walker, also a Howard University graduate. Walker married Dorothy A. Dinroe in 1970, a match made in their love for the arts.

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 along with Dorothy A. Walker co-produced Yin-Yang at the African American Studio. In 1972–73, Douglas Turner Ward went into production for the The River Niger. The response to The River Niger was so overwhelming that the play was moved to the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on Broadway in 1973, where it won the Tony Award in 1974. In this same year his first daughter, Kumina Walker, was born.

Walker received 400 hours towards a Motion Picture Production Certificate received at the Germaine School of Photography, New York City, in 1973. He also completed 28 credits towards his Ph.D. program in Cinema Studies at New York University, and was honored as Playwright-in-Residence at Yale School of Drama.

Later life

Walker spent his last years continuing his writings while maintaining full tenure as well as Theatre Arts Chair for Rutgers University's Camden Campus. 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

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 “Joseph A. Walker, Tony-Winning Playwright of The River Niger, Dead at 67,” Playbill, January 31, 2003.
  2. ↑ “Joseph A. Walker Jr., 67, Tony-winning playwright,” Washington Times, February 3, 2003.
  3. ↑ “Stage: ‘District Line,’ From Negro Ensemble,” New York Times, December 5, 1984.
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