Productions of Black Playwrights

The following list compares the number of plays by black American writers at 10 not-for-profit U.S. theater companies. Data provided by theaters. Annual budget and subscribers are for 1993-94 season. Productions count through the end of the season.

AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATRE (San Francisco)

Founded 1965. Budget: $8.5 million. Subscribers: 14,500. Seven black American plays (of about 250 productions since moving to San Francisco in 1967).

AMERICAN REPERTORY THEATRE (Cambridge, Mass.)

Founded 1966. Budget: $6.2 million. Subscribers: 10,000. Three black American plays (of about 150 productions since moving to Cambridge in 1979).

ARENA STAGE (Washington)

Founded 1963. Budget: $9 million. Subscribers: 13,000. 27 black American plays (of 425 productions).

THE GUTHRIE THEATER (Minneapolis)

Founded 1963. Budget: $11 million. Subscribers: 20,000. One black American play (of about 200 productions).

LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE (San Diego)

Founded 1983. Budget: $4.6 million. Subscribers: 9,500. No black American plays (of about 55 productions).

MARK TAPER FORUM (Los Angeles)

Founded 1967. Budget: $10.8 million. Subscribers: 25,000. 12 black American plays (of 166 productions).

NEW YORK SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL (New York)

Founded 1954. Budget: $9.6 million. Subscribers: * 55 black American plays (of 853 productions).

OLD GLOBE THEATRE (San Diego)

Founded 1935. Budget: $8.4 million. Subscribers: 43,000. 13 black American plays (of 513 productions since 1950).

SEATTLE REPERTORY THEATRE (Seattle)

Founded 1963. Budget: $6.6 million. Subscribers: 20,000. Seven black American plays (of about 170 productions).

SOUTH COAST REPERTORY (Costa Mesa)

Founded 1964. Budget: $5.8 million. Subscribers: 20,000. No black American plays (of 300 productions).

* The New York Shakespeare Festival is converting to subscription sales this season. It sold 43,000 single tickets to performances at its Public Theater during the 1992-93 season and, per tradition, gave away 81,000 tickets to its Free Shakespeare in Central Park performances at the Delacorte Theater.