A 19th century Shakespearean actor, 20th century opera stars, a 21st century choreographer — these are among the artists that the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center has been celebrating all month on their Twitter feed, along with dancers, a drummer, a rock n roll pioneer — and more to come. Click on any photograph in the gallery to see it enlarged and read the library’s captions.
Choreographer Bill T. Jones (1952-) began studying dance in college at Binghamton University in the early 1970s. Jones is currently the Artistic Director of New York Live Arts
This candid backstage snapshot of choreographer Alvin Ailey (1931-1989) and dancer Dudley Williams (1938-2015) was taken sometime in the 1970s.
Ira Aldridge was born a free African American in New York in 1807 and went on to become one of the greatest Shakespearean actors of his time. Over the next four decades, Aldridge received critical praise and toured widely in Great Britain and Europe, most often playing African or Moorish characters in Shakespearean and other popular dramas of the day.
Happy 94th birthday to the incomparable and beloved soprano Leontyne Price. Price was featured in the Metropolitan Opera ‘s first performance in their new home at Lincoln Center in 1966, starring as Cleopatra in “Antony and Cleopatra.” Her voice & her fearlessness forever changed the game.
Born in Philadelphia in 1925, Mary Hinkson was a modern dancer and influential dance teacher, known primarily for her work with the Martha Graham Dance Company Hinkson died in 2014 at the age of 89
Before Elvis, before Little Richard, and before Johnny Cash there was Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1915-1973). A singer, songwriter, and guitarist (since the age of 4), Sister Rosetta is known as the “Godmother of Rock and Roll. Her music has influenced the likes of Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins, and many more.
Ananias “Nyas” Berry (1913-1951) and his brother James (1915-1969) were born in New Orleans, and, after a few early stints performing in Denver and Hollywood, made their New York debut in 1927 at ages 13 and 11. The Nicholas Brothers, regular Club headliners, found their flashy, signature leaps and jumps outdone by the Berrys’ astounding finale: a synchronized flying and tumbling split-legged catapult over the heads of the band.
Do Well. Stay Well.” signs Odetta on this photo from @NYPL_Music ’s rare iconography collection. Odetta Holmes (1930-2008) was a singer, guitarist, lyricist, political activist, and a significant figure in the American folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s. Her blend of folk, blues, ballads, and spirituals has influenced generations of musicians including Joan Baez, Janis Joplin, and Bob Dylan.
in 1903, baritone Todd Duncan was born in Danville, Kentucky. In addition to originating the role of Porgy in Porgy and Bess, Duncan appeared in Lost in the Stars and Cabin in the Sky on Broadway.
William Grant Still (1895-1978) was the first African American composer to conduct a major American Symphony orchestra when he led the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1936. He was also the first African American person to have an opera (Troubled Island) performed by a major opera company ( @NYCOPERA ) and the first to have an opera performed on national television.
William Henry “Chick” Webb (1905-1939) who was one of the leading drummers of the Big Band era. Buddy Rich, Art Blakey, and Duke Ellington have all cited him as an influence for their own music.
George C. Wolfe (right, seen here with the late Gregory Hines, left) is a playwright, director, and producer whose work has been seen in New York for over 35 years. Born in Kentucky, Wolfe saw his first Broadway show at age 13 and became determined to have a career in theatre. He gained attention in 1986 with the off-Broadway production of his play THE COLORED MUSEUM and went on to direct the Broadway productions of his musical JELLY’S LAST JAM (1992, pictured here in rehearsal w/Gregory Hines) and both parts of Tony Kushner’s ANGELS IN AMERICA (1993). Wolfe was artistic director and producer of The Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival from 1993-2004 and has continued to direct on Broadway, most recently the 2019 production of Taylor Mac’s GARY: A SEQUEL TO TITUS ANDRONICUS.
Vinnette Carroll (1922-2002) was the first African American woman to direct a Broadway production. After earning degrees in psychology, she studied acting with Erwin Piscator, Lee Strasberg, and Stella Adler. While working as an actor on and off Broadway, she also taught drama for 11 years at NYC’s High School of Performing Arts. In 1967, she founded the Urban Arts Corps, which produced over 100 plays with Black and Puerto Rican youth around the city. Her groundbreaking, Tony-nominated directing debut was the 1972 production of Micki Grant’s DON’T BOTHER ME, I CAN’T COPE. She is pictured here directing the cast of YOUR ARMS TOO SHORT TO BOX WITH GOD (1976), an adaptation of the Gospel of Matthew, for which she also wrote the book.
