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Maryat Lee (born Mary Attaway Lee; May 26, 1923 – September 18, 1989) was an American playwright and theatre director who made important contributions to post-World War II avant-garde theatre. She pioneered street theatre in Harlem, and later founded EcoTheater in West Virginia, a community based theater project.Early in her career, Lee wrote and produced plays in New York City, including the street play “DOPE!” While in New York she also formed the Soul and Latin Theater (SALT), and wrote plays centered around the lives of the actors in the group.In 1970 Lee moved to West Virginia and formed the community theater group EcoTheater in 1975. Beginning with local teenagers from the Governor’s Summer Youth Program, the rural theater group grew, and produced plays based on oral histories collected from the local community. Each performance of an EcoTheater play involved audience participation and discussion. With the assistance of the Humanities Foundation of West Virginia, guest scholars became a part of EcoTheater.

25. Portrait of Maryat Lee in Hinton, W. Va.

IDNO:
049829
Title:
Portrait of Maryat Lee in Hinton, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1970-1989
Description:
Maryat Lee (born Mary Attaway Lee; May 26, 1923 – September 18, 1989) was an American playwright and theatre director who made important contributions to post-World War II avant-garde theatre. She pioneered street theatre in Harlem, and later founded EcoTheater in West Virginia, a community based theater project.Early in her career, Lee wrote and produced plays in New York City, including the street play “DOPE!” While in New York she also formed the Soul and Latin Theater (SALT), and wrote plays centered around the lives of the actors in the group.In 1970 Lee moved to West Virginia and formed the community theater group EcoTheater in 1975. Beginning with local teenagers from the Governor’s Summer Youth Program, the rural theater group grew, and produced plays based on oral histories collected from the local community. Each performance of an EcoTheater play involved audience participation and discussion. With the assistance of the Humanities Foundation of West Virginia, guest scholars became a part of EcoTheater.
Kathy Jackson was a member of the Governor's Summer Youth Program and an actress in the EcoTheater group. She played John Henry in a number of performances of the play "John Henry" by Maryat Lee. She remained involved with EcoTheater for more than eleven years and continued for some time after Maryat Lee's death.Maryat Lee (born Mary Attaway Lee; May 26, 1923 – September 18, 1989) was an American playwright and theatre director who made important contributions to post-World War II avant-garde theatre. She pioneered street theatre in Harlem, and later founded EcoTheater in West Virginia, a community based theater project.Early in her career, Lee wrote and produced plays in New York City, including the street play “DOPE!” While in New York she also formed the Soul and Latin Theater (SALT), and wrote plays centered around the lives of the actors in the group.In 1970 Lee moved to West Virginia and formed the community theater group EcoTheater in 1975. Beginning with local teenagers from the Governor’s Summer Youth Program, the rural theater group grew, and produced plays based on oral histories collected from the local community. Each performance of an EcoTheater play involved audience participation and discussion. With the assistance of the Humanities Foundation of West Virginia, guest scholars became a part of EcoTheater.

26. EcoTheater actress Kathy Jackson likely in Hinton, W. Va.

IDNO:
049830
Title:
EcoTheater actress Kathy Jackson likely in Hinton, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1975-1989
Description:
Kathy Jackson was a member of the Governor's Summer Youth Program and an actress in the EcoTheater group. She played John Henry in a number of performances of the play "John Henry" by Maryat Lee. She remained involved with EcoTheater for more than eleven years and continued for some time after Maryat Lee's death.Maryat Lee (born Mary Attaway Lee; May 26, 1923 – September 18, 1989) was an American playwright and theatre director who made important contributions to post-World War II avant-garde theatre. She pioneered street theatre in Harlem, and later founded EcoTheater in West Virginia, a community based theater project.Early in her career, Lee wrote and produced plays in New York City, including the street play “DOPE!” While in New York she also formed the Soul and Latin Theater (SALT), and wrote plays centered around the lives of the actors in the group.In 1970 Lee moved to West Virginia and formed the community theater group EcoTheater in 1975. Beginning with local teenagers from the Governor’s Summer Youth Program, the rural theater group grew, and produced plays based on oral histories collected from the local community. Each performance of an EcoTheater play involved audience participation and discussion. With the assistance of the Humanities Foundation of West Virginia, guest scholars became a part of EcoTheater.
When playwright Maryat Lee moved to West Virginia, she first lived near Hinton, Summers County, W. Va. where she founded EcoTheater. She later moved to Lewisburg, W. Va. in 1984 where she continued to teach her community theater methods.Maryat Lee (born Mary Attaway Lee; May 26, 1923 – September 18, 1989) was an American playwright and theatre director who made important contributions to post-World War II avant-garde theatre. She pioneered street theatre in Harlem, and later founded EcoTheater in West Virginia, a community based theater project.Early in her career, Lee wrote and produced plays in New York City, including the street play “DOPE!” While in New York she also formed the Soul and Latin Theater (SALT), and wrote plays centered around the lives of the actors in the group.In 1970 Lee moved to West Virginia and formed the community theater group EcoTheater in 1975. Beginning with local teenagers from the Governor’s Summer Youth Program, the rural theater group grew, and produced plays based on oral histories collected from the local community. Each performance of an EcoTheater play involved audience participation and discussion. With the assistance of the Humanities Foundation of West Virginia, guest scholars became a part of EcoTheater.

27. Maryat Lee in West Virginia

IDNO:
049831
Title:
Maryat Lee in West Virginia
Date:
ca. 1983
Description:
When playwright Maryat Lee moved to West Virginia, she first lived near Hinton, Summers County, W. Va. where she founded EcoTheater. She later moved to Lewisburg, W. Va. in 1984 where she continued to teach her community theater methods.Maryat Lee (born Mary Attaway Lee; May 26, 1923 – September 18, 1989) was an American playwright and theatre director who made important contributions to post-World War II avant-garde theatre. She pioneered street theatre in Harlem, and later founded EcoTheater in West Virginia, a community based theater project.Early in her career, Lee wrote and produced plays in New York City, including the street play “DOPE!” While in New York she also formed the Soul and Latin Theater (SALT), and wrote plays centered around the lives of the actors in the group.In 1970 Lee moved to West Virginia and formed the community theater group EcoTheater in 1975. Beginning with local teenagers from the Governor’s Summer Youth Program, the rural theater group grew, and produced plays based on oral histories collected from the local community. Each performance of an EcoTheater play involved audience participation and discussion. With the assistance of the Humanities Foundation of West Virginia, guest scholars became a part of EcoTheater.
A poster erected beside the building advertises for a July showing of "Franc's Minstrels," a "New York company under white management."

28. Opera House, Glen Jean, W. Va.

IDNO:
052141
Title:
Opera House, Glen Jean, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1912
Description:
A poster erected beside the building advertises for a July showing of "Franc's Minstrels," a "New York company under white management."
A group of men stand outside of the theater where advertisements of the film, "Daughters of the Night" are displayed. Daughters of the Night came out in 1924.

29. "Daughters of the Night" at Kearse Theatre, Charleston, W. Va.

IDNO:
052406
Title:
"Daughters of the Night" at Kearse Theatre, Charleston, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1924
Description:
A group of men stand outside of the theater where advertisements of the film, "Daughters of the Night" are displayed. Daughters of the Night came out in 1924.
Ann Little stars as the character Tracy Lord in a WVU production of "Philadelphia Story," a play by Phillip Barry. The other character is played by Bob Brown.

30. Ann Little and Bob Brown in "Philadelphia Story," West Virginia University, Morgantown, W. Va.

IDNO:
053479
Title:
Ann Little and Bob Brown in "Philadelphia Story," West Virginia University, Morgantown, W. Va.
Date:
1947
Description:
Ann Little stars as the character Tracy Lord in a WVU production of "Philadelphia Story," a play by Phillip Barry. The other character is played by Bob Brown.