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"EcoTheater, indigenous grass roots theater, performs the original play, "Ole Miz Dacey," by Maryat Lee, starring Jim Costa as Miz Dacey. Members of the cast are young people from Summers County, in the Governor's Summer Youth Program."EcoTheater performed in state parks and other outdoor locations in Southern West Virginia using their mobile stage made from an old farm wagon.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.

EcoTheater Performance of the play "Ole Miz Dacey" by Maryat Lee at Pipestem State Park, W. Va.

Identifier:
049828
Collection Number:
A&M 3300
Title:
EcoTheater Performance of the play "Ole Miz Dacey" by Maryat Lee at Pipestem State Park, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1975-1989
Creator:
Fran Belin
Description:
"EcoTheater, indigenous grass roots theater, performs the original play, "Ole Miz Dacey," by Maryat Lee, starring Jim Costa as Miz Dacey. Members of the cast are young people from Summers County, in the Governor's Summer Youth Program."EcoTheater performed in state parks and other outdoor locations in Southern West Virginia using their mobile stage made from an old farm wagon.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.
Acquisition Source:
Lee, Robert
Acquisition Method:
Gift
Medium:
print
Projects:
West Virginia History OnView