| Day of Absence | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Douglas Turner Ward |
| Characters | Clem Luke John Mary Mayor Jackson Others |
| Date premiered | November 15, 1965 |
| Place premiered | St. Mark's Playhouse, New York City |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | Satire |
| Setting | A Southern town, the present |
Day of Absence is a play written by American playwright Douglas Turner Ward, which premiered off-off-Broadway in 1965.[1] Telling the story of a Southern town where all of its Black residents suddenly disappear, Day of Absence is notable for most productions starring Black actors in whiteface in a reverse minstrel show style.[2] Day of Absence explores themes of whiteness and discrimination against Black Americans through its insertion of Black actors into farcical situations inhabiting white bodies.[3]
Day of Absence, a one act show, is often paired with other Ward plays. In its debut, Day of Absence was paired with Happy Ending, while it was performed alongside Brotherhood in a 1970 production.[4]
Ward, a leading figure in late 20th century Black theatre, was praised for his writing, winning a Drama Desk Award for playwriting in Day of Absence and an Obie Award for his performance as the Mayor in 1965 and 1966, respectively.[5]
- ^ "Happy Ending/ Day of Absence Production History". Broadway World. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ Soloski, Alexis (December 8, 2016). "Review: In 'Day of Absence,' Blacks Vanish From a Town, and Chaos Ensues". New York Times. New York. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ Carpenter, Faedra Chatard (November 12, 2014). "Douglas Turner Ward's Play on Whiteness: Day of Absence on America's Public Stages". Coloring Whiteness: Acts of Critique in Black Performance. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. ISBN 9780472072361.
- ^ "Brotherhood/ Day of Absence Production History". Broadway World. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ Jones, Kenneth (29 January 2009). "Day of Absence, Play That Helped Launch Negro Ensemble, Gets NYC Reading". playbill.com. Retrieved 18 November 2020.