This useful reference work contributes information not found elsewhere. Academic libraries with theater departments and large public libraries will want to purchase it.

Booklist

Much-needed and appreciated. ... An excellent historical overview of black theater. ... This reference work will be a boon to social and theater historians, libraries, teachers, students, directors, critics, and dramaturges, as well as the casual lover of all theater and theater history.

American Reference Books Annual

Flip through this chunky, 500-plus-page volume compiled by two Seattle natives, and you'll find so much more on the subject at hand-from the stage credits of other black movie stars to the efforts of pre-Civil War African Americans to integrate our nation's theatrical life. ... Along with an introductory essay and a timeline, the volume contains some 600 entries devoted to performers, playwrights, directors, designers, composers, companies and others engaged in black theater in the U.S. from the early 1800s to the present day.

The Seattle Times

This welcome volume by respected theater historians and practioners Hill (Ohio State Univ.) and Barnett (founder, Black Arts/West) is an essential Who's Who of African American theater. A pleasant feature of this resource is that it represents more than 200 years of black theater. This dictionary updates many similar resources that are several decades old. It is a must-have book for theater historians and all public and college libraries. Highly recommended.

Choice Reviews

Evidence of meticulous research; the authors have clearly done their homework. The Dictionary bridges the divide between academe, community and professional theatre. To visibly display information on the Negro Ensemble Company in the same volume as the Seattle Negro Repertory Theatre, Black Arts/West and Karamu Performing Arts Theatre- while at the same time describing the respective journeys of actors like Greg Morris, Sara Oliver Jackson, Ron O'Neal, Robert Hooks and Academy Award-winner Denzel Washington- should fulfill any fact-hungry reader's dream.

American Theatre

The Hill/Barnett Dictionary has several helpful features.... A wealth of data.... This dictionary is a splendid piece of work and it belongs in every university and college library.... Each time we pick up the Historical Dictionary of African American Theatre, it offers us a magical moment.

African American Review