Heading: (African American, 1933)
Author: Johnson, Hall
Title: Broadway Program for Run Little Chillun, a Negro Folk Drama
Place Published: New York
Publisher:Lyric Theater
Date Published: 12114
Description:

16 pp. Illustrated. 9½x7" original wrappers with photo of Johnson on front cover.

Johnson, the composer and founder of the Negro Choir that bears his name, was one of a handful of master musicians who "elevated the African-American spiritual to an art from, comparable in its musical sophistication to the compositions of European classical composers". This scarce program is particularly interesting because it includes brief biographies of six of the leading performers of the all-Black cast, as well as the intriguing note that an Exhibition of Negro Art was on display in the theater lobby.

After its New York production, Run, Little Chillun was later produced again under WPA auspices in Los Angeles (1935) and San Francisco (1939). By that time, Johnson and his choir were providing musical background for dozens of major Hollywood films, including Walt Disney's Snow White and Dumbo.

Light staining to wrapper, faint vertical fold, ink notes on rear cover; good overall.