Rose McClendon
Encyclopedia
Rose McClendon born Rose Virginia Scott McClendon, (August 27, 1884 – July 12, 1936) was a leading African American
Broadway
actress of the 1920s.
Rose McClendon, the "Negro first lady of the dramatic stage"(1) was born in Greenville, SC under the name of Rosalie Virginia Scott. Rose was born circa in 1885 in South Carolina
and as a child relocated to New York City
. She started acting in church
plays as a child, but did not become a professional actress until she won a scholarship
to the American Academy of Dramatic Art, when she was in her thirties.
Her first claim to fame came in Deep River, a "native opera with jazz", in 1926. In addition to acting, she also directed several plays at the Harlem Experimental Theatre.
She was a contemporary of Paul Robeson, Ethel Barrymore, Lynne Fontanne and Langston Hughes. Hughes wrote a character for her in his 1935 play, Mulatto. Her talent extended to directing as well as acting. In 1935, she co-founded with Dick Campbell
, the Negro People's Theatre in Harlem. A year later McClendon died of pneumonia. Campbell and his wife, Murial Rahn, founded the Rose McClendon players.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
actress of the 1920s.
Rose McClendon, the "Negro first lady of the dramatic stage"(1) was born in Greenville, SC under the name of Rosalie Virginia Scott. Rose was born circa in 1885 in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
and as a child relocated to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. She started acting in church
Christian Church
The Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
plays as a child, but did not become a professional actress until she won a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
to the American Academy of Dramatic Art, when she was in her thirties.
Her first claim to fame came in Deep River, a "native opera with jazz", in 1926. In addition to acting, she also directed several plays at the Harlem Experimental Theatre.
She was a contemporary of Paul Robeson, Ethel Barrymore, Lynne Fontanne and Langston Hughes. Hughes wrote a character for her in his 1935 play, Mulatto. Her talent extended to directing as well as acting. In 1935, she co-founded with Dick Campbell
Dick Campbell (producer)
Dick Campbell, born Cornelius Coleridge Campbell , was a key figure in black theater during the Harlem Renaissance. While a successful performer in his own right, Campbell is best known as a tireless advocate for black actors in general...
, the Negro People's Theatre in Harlem. A year later McClendon died of pneumonia. Campbell and his wife, Murial Rahn, founded the Rose McClendon players.
Productions
- Deep River 1926
- Abraham's Bosom 1927
- PorgyPorgyPorgy is a novel written by American author DuBose Heyward in 1925, as well as a play Dorothy Heyward helped him to write which debuted in 1927....
1928 - Black Souls 1932
- Never No More 1932
- Panic 1935
- Mulatto 1936