When Broadway Was Black: The Triumphant Story of the All-Black Musical that Changed the World
About this audiobook
If Hamilton, Rent, or West Side Story captured your heart, you’ll love this in-depth look into the rise of the 1921 Broadway hit Shuffle Along, the first all-Black musical to succeed on Broadway.
No one was sure if America was ready for a show featuring nuanced, thoughtful portrayals of Black characters―and the potential fallout was terrifying. But from the first jazzy, syncopated beats of composers Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake, New York audiences fell head over heels.
When Broadway Was Black is the story of how Sissle and Blake, along with comedians Flournoy Miller and Aubrey Lyles, overcame poverty, racism, and violence to harness the energy of the Harlem Renaissance and produce a runaway Broadway hit that launched the careers of many of the twentieth century’s most beloved Black performers. Born in the shadow of slavery and establishing their careers at a time of increasing demands for racial justice and representation for people of color, they broke down innumerable barriers between Black and white communities at a crucial point in our history.
Author and pop culture expert Caseen Gaines leads readers through the glitz and glamour of New York City during the roaring twenties to reveal the revolutionary impact one show had on generations of Americans and how its legacy continues to resonate today.
About the author
Caseen Gaines is the author of several books, including When Broadway Was Black: The Triumphant Story of the All-Black Musical That Changed the World. His previous work includes We Don’t Need Roads: The Making of the Back to the Future Trilogy, which led to his appearances on Entertainment Tonight and Netflix’s The Movies That Made Us. His first book, Inside Pee-wee’s Playhouse, received a Silver Medal at the 2012 Independent Publisher Book Awards. He has written for several publications including Rolling Stone. He can be found @caseengaines.
