| The objectives of this study are two-fold: (1) to evaluate the current state of Black theatre in the City of Detroit and (2) to examine the opportunities currently available to Black high school students (grades 9 through 12) for exposure and training in Theatre art and Black theatre.;The objectives of this study were selected because in order for present and future theatre companies within the City of Detroit to have any measure of economic and artistic success, its audiences must be oriented and educated to be supportive. Furthermore, the state of any people's theatre is influenced by its public education networks and the impact of its community organizations. The high school age group was used because these youths are at the age level of fourteen through eighteen, age levels when youths can be comprehending theatre art.;This particular group may include youth as young as thirteen because of their special abilities to enter high school through advanced promotions, and/or high school students as old as nineteen who have been held back due to learning disabilities or extreme truancy.;The study's time period is from 1982 to 1984. Updated interviews were conducted from 1985 to 1987.;Black students overwhelmingly make up the Detroit School system's enrollment quota (of 200,000 students, 87% are Black). In addition, the Black students are part of the City of Detroit's total residential population of 1,200,329. |
