Joseph Bradford (playwright)

White Bostonian Joseph Bradford (1843–1886)[1] was an American playwright who most famously helped write a landmark production, Out of Bondage, the first African American musical comedy,[2] with Pauline Hopkins and the Hyers Sisters, debuting in 1876.[3] The production featured Sam Lucas, a famous minstrel performer of the era.[4]

Joseph Bradford
BornWilliam Randolph Hunter
October 24, 1843
Nashville, Tennessee
DiedApril 13, 1886
Boston, Massachusetts
Pen nameJay Bee
Notable worksOut of Bondage

Bradford was also an actor, poet and journalist.[1] He wrote for the Boston Courier as "Jay Bee".[1]

Works edit

  • New German (1872)
  • Law in New York (1873)
  • 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1874) Libretto
  • The Conditional Pardon (1875)
  • Fritz's Brother (1875)
  • Out of Bondage (1876)
  • In and Out of Bondage (1877)
  • Our Bachelors (1877)[5] OCLC 44017470
  • A.A. 1900 (1879)
  • John Mishler (1882)
  • One of the Finest (1883)
  • A Wonderful Woman (1883)
  • Cherubs (1885)
  • Rose and Coe (1886)

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b c Tennessee Biographical Dictionary – Page 106. Somerset Publishers, Inc. 2000. ISBN 0403097002.
  2. ^ Composers and Music, California Sheet Music
  3. ^ Riis, Thomas L. "Musical Theater". The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music. pp. 614–623.
  4. ^ Hill, pg. 71
  5. ^ Augustus Thomas The Print of My Remembrance – Page 115 (2004) ISBN 0766199436

Sources edit