Stage to Screen: African American Plays

In Stage to Screen, we will explore how stage plays by African-American playwrights are transformed into films. Playwriting and screenwriting are closely related forms of dramatic writing; students will read 8 plays and examine the differences between each play and its film adaptation. Since this course deals with the black experience, students will investigate the socio-historical and political contexts of the play to see how the intersection of race, class, gender, culture, and politics play a role in the artistic product. Students will evaluate whether each playwright’s vision is reaffirmed, enhanced, or challenged in the transformation of play to film.