Group of materials related to African American actor William Marshall's production of Macbeth in 1982 set in West Africa [manuscript], [1982].

Washington, DC, [1982]

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FAST ACC 272394

From dealer's description: "William Marshall's Personal Archive from his 1982 Production of Macbeth The eminent African American actor William Marshall was among the first Black actors in America to play leading Shakespearean roles at major venues. He played Othello three times during the 1950s, including at City Center in New York and in Central Park for Joseph Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival. The British theatre critic Harold Hobson praised his 1962 Othello at the Dublin Festival as "the best Othello of our time." Marshall later played Othello three times more and made a video of the play. Other stage appearances include The Green Pastures on Broadway and a one-man show as Frederick Douglass. He enjoyed a substantial career, as well, in film and television, winning two Emmy awards. Marshall's innovative 1982 production of Macbeth was set in West Africa; it was the only time he played the role. The personal archive consists of material related to the play that Marshall retained: William Marshall's Macbeth study book, 1908 New Hudson Shakespeare edition, with Marshall's handwritten signature and address to inside back cover. Seven pages of detailed handwritten notes by William Marshall about Macbeth, its characters, his interpretation of the title role, and details of the 1982 production. Drawing of the set for the Macbeth production, light folds, seventeen and a half by eight and a half inches. Photograph of William Marshall in the role of Macbeth, eight by ten inches, mounted to board. Photograph of William Marshall as Othello, with a publicity release with biographical information about William Marshall and information about the Macbeth production stapled to the reverse. Eight-page program for the play with a signed note of appreciation to William Marshall from a playgoer to the front cover. Eleven by eight and a half inch publicity flyer for the Macbeth production. Photograph of Carol Foster Sidney, who played Lady Macbeth, with biographical and theatrical credit information stapled to the reverse. Photograph of Ron Canada, who played Macduff, with biographical and theatrical credit information stapled to the reverse. Two-page publicity release for Macbeth with information about the "West African" production of the play. February 1, 1982 Memorandum from James W. Butcher, the play's director, to William Marshall. Notes on the Macbeth production lighting. Two press releases about the Macbeth production and the cast. January 18, 1982 issue of The Howard University Capstone with a front page article about William Marshall and the Macbeth production. Macbeth: An Adaptation envelope addressed to William Marshall. Howard University International Sponsors' Council brochure. Production folder for Macbeth: An Adaptation. Provenance: the actor's estate."\ Ordered from [for example, Michael A. Morrison, D9601, 2022-08-06, email quote. Purchase made possible by [funding info goes here].

272394