Willis Richardson
Encyclopedia
Willis Richardson is an American
playwright.
, a son of Willis Wilder and Agnes Ann (Harper) Richardson. His family moved to Washington, D.C.
shortly after the Wilmington Riots of 1898.
He attended public schools in Washington, DC including M Street High School (later Dunbar High School
). While attending high school there, he was encouraged to write plays by Mary P. Burrill
, one of his teachers and a playwright herself.
On September 1, 1914, he married Mary Ellen Jones. This union produced three children:
In 1921, "The Deacon's Awakening" was his first play to be staged. It was presented in Saint Paul, Minnesota
. This was followed the following year by "The Chip Woman's Fortune." The latter play was produced by Raymond O'Neil's Ethiopian Art Players in Chicago
, Washington, D.C.
and on Broadway.
His play "Mortgaged" was presented in 1923 by the Howard Players at Howard University
. It was subsequently produced by the Dunbar Players in Plainfield, New Jersey
in 1924.
He was awarded the Amy Spingarn Prize in 1925 for "The Broken Banjo," his best known work. The following year he received the Spingarn Prize for "Bootblack Lover," a drama in three acts.
To supplement his income as a playwright, Richardson also worked as a "skilled helper" in the wetting division of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing beginning on 8 March 1911.
He died on November 7, 1977 in Washington, D.C.
. He was awarded the prestigious AUDELCO
prize posthumously for his contribution to American theatre.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
playwright.
Biography
Willis Richardson was born on November 5, 1889 in Wilmington, North CarolinaWilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
, a son of Willis Wilder and Agnes Ann (Harper) Richardson. His family moved to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
shortly after the Wilmington Riots of 1898.
He attended public schools in Washington, DC including M Street High School (later Dunbar High School
Dunbar High School (Washington, D.C.)
Dunbar High School is a public secondary school located in Washington, D.C., United States. The school is located in the Truxton Circle neighborhood of Northwest Washington, two blocks from the intersection of New Jersey and New York Avenues...
). While attending high school there, he was encouraged to write plays by Mary P. Burrill
Mary P. Burrill
Mary P. Burrill was an early 20th century African-American female playwright and educator who also inspired Willis Richardson and other students to write plays.-Biography:...
, one of his teachers and a playwright herself.
On September 1, 1914, he married Mary Ellen Jones. This union produced three children:
- Jean Paula Richardson (August 7, 1916–)
- Shirley Antonella Richardson (April 29, 1918–)
- Noel Justine Richardson (August 14, 1920–)
In 1921, "The Deacon's Awakening" was his first play to be staged. It was presented in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
. This was followed the following year by "The Chip Woman's Fortune." The latter play was produced by Raymond O'Neil's Ethiopian Art Players in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and on Broadway.
His play "Mortgaged" was presented in 1923 by the Howard Players at Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
. It was subsequently produced by the Dunbar Players in Plainfield, New Jersey
Plainfield, New Jersey
Plainfield is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population increased to a record high of 49,808....
in 1924.
He was awarded the Amy Spingarn Prize in 1925 for "The Broken Banjo," his best known work. The following year he received the Spingarn Prize for "Bootblack Lover," a drama in three acts.
To supplement his income as a playwright, Richardson also worked as a "skilled helper" in the wetting division of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing beginning on 8 March 1911.
He died on November 7, 1977 in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. He was awarded the prestigious AUDELCO
AUDELCO
AUDELCO, the Audience Development Committee, Inc., was established in 1973 by the late Vivian Robinson to honor excellence in New York African American Theatre through presentation of Vivan Robinson/AUDELCO Recognition Awards...
prize posthumously for his contribution to American theatre.