Zooman and the Sign 1981

Opened: June 20, 1981
Closing: July 26, 1981

Zooman and the Sign - 1981 - Off-Broadway History , Info & More

Theatre Four
424 West 55th Street New York, NY

After the killing of his 12-year-old daughter, a bereaved father posts a sign accusing the entire community of cowardice in the face of escalating violence.

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The Negro Ensemble Company to Premiere MECCA IS BURNING at Harlem Schoool Of The Arts In August
by Blair Ingenthron - Jul 30, 2023


From August 10 to 26, the Negro Ensemble Company, Inc. (NEC), in conjunction with their residency at Penn Live Arts, will perform the world premiere of 'Mecca Is Burning' at Harlem School of the Arts.

Theatre In The X Celebrates 10th Anniversary With New Staging Of ZOOMAN AND THE SIGN
by Stephi Wild - Jul 11, 2023


Theatre in the X, which was created in 2013 to provide the people of West Philadelphia and the African American community at large the opportunity to see professional quality theater in their own neighborhood for no cost, is celebrating their 10th anniversary this August by presenting a rarely-staged work by late Philadelphia-born playwright Charles Fuller, who died in October 2022 at the age of 83.

World Premiere of A TRANSPARENT MUSICAL, 1776 National Tour & More Announced for Center Theatre Group 2022-2023 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 23, 2022


Programming has been announced for the 2022/2023 season at the Ahmanson Theatre and Mark Taper Forum. Find out all of the shows in the season, how to get tickets & more. 

W. Tré Davis, Tyler Fauntleroy & More to Star in TAMBO & BONES at Center Theatre Group
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 15, 2022


Casting has been announced for the World premiere production of Dave Harris’ new work, “Tambo & Bones,” coming to Los Angeles at the Center Theatre Group’s Kirk Douglas Theatre May 1 through May 29, 2022, opening May 8, 2022.

Charles Weldon, Artistic Director Of Negro Ensemble Company, Dies At 78
by Julie Musbach - Dec 14, 2018


Actor/Director Charles Weldon, who was Artistic Director of The Negro Ensemble Company (NEC) since 2005, died December 7 at Mt. Sinai Hospital, NYC. He was 78.

Negro Ensemble Company Presents HERCULES DIDN'T WADE IN THE WATER
by BWW News Desk - May 16, 2018


From May 16 to 27, The Negro Ensemble Company, Inc. will present the world premiere production of 'Hercules Didn't Wade in the Water' by Michael A Jones.  The play is winner of the troupe's 2017 Emerging Playwrights Competition.  Called a 'drama with comedy,' it is a story of displacement of Black families and the forces that lead to it in modern America.  Performances are at Theatre 80 St. Marks, 80 St. Marks Place.

Negro Ensemble Company Presents HERCULES DIDN'T WADE IN THE WATER
by Stephi Wild - Apr 24, 2018


From May 16 to 27, The Negro Ensemble Company, Inc. will present the world premiere production of 'Hercules Didn't Wade in the Water' by Michael A Jones. The play is winner of the troupe's 2017 Emerging Playwrights Competition. Called a 'drama with comedy,' it is a story of displacement of Black families and the forces that lead to it in modern America. Performances are at Theatre 80 St. Marks, 80 St. Marks Place.

Negro Ensemble Company Presents HERCULES DIDN'T WADE IN THE WATER
by Julie Musbach - Apr 23, 2018


From May 16 to 27, The Negro Ensemble Company, Inc. will present the world premiere production of 'Hercules Didn't Wade in the Water' by Michael A Jones.  The play is winner of the troupe's 2017 Emerging Playwrights Competition.  Called a 'drama with comedy,' it is a story of displacement of Black families and the forces that lead to it in modern America.  Performances are at Theatre 80 St. Marks, 80 St. Marks Place.

The Negro Ensemble Company Remounts A SOLDIER'S PLAY This February
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 22, 2018


To reach an expanded audience, The Negro Ensemble Company, Inc. (NEC) will re-mount its 2017 revival of 'A Soldier's Play' by Charles Fuller, directed by Charles Weldon, from February 14 to March 4, 2018 at Gene Frankel Theatre, 24 Bond Street. The piece is historically NEC's most famous and successful play. It was produced last fall at Theatre 80 St. Marks as the culminating event of NEC's landmark 50th season, playing to full houses and glowing notices. The cast of that revival will return intact for the Gene Frankel Theatre run.

Negro Ensemble Remounts A SOLDIER'S PLAY
by Stephi Wild - Jan 17, 2018


To reach an expanded audience, The Negro Ensemble Company, Inc. (NEC) will re-mount its 2017 revival of 'A Soldier's Play' by Charles Fuller, directed by Charles Weldon, from February 14 to March 4, 2018 at Gene Frankel Theatre, 24 Bond Street. The piece is historically NEC's most famous and successful play. It was produced last fall at Theatre 80 St. Marks as the culminating event of NEC's landmark 50th season, playing to full houses and glowing notices. The cast of that revival will return intact for the Gene Frankel Theatre run.

Negro Ensemble Revives A SOLDIER'S PLAY Tonight as Part of 50th Season
by BWW News Desk - Sep 27, 2017


For its 50th season, The Negro Ensemble Company, Inc. (NEC) has been presenting a retrospective of some of the troupe's signature works. The culminating event of this landmark season will be NEC's most famous and successful production, 'A Soldier's Play' by Charles Fuller, which NEC first presented in 1981 at Theatre Four.

Negro Ensemble to Revive A SOLDIER'S PLAY as Part of 50th Season
by BWW News Desk - Aug 30, 2017


For its 50th season, The Negro Ensemble Company, Inc. (NEC) has been presenting a retrospective of some of the troupe's signature works. The culminating event of this landmark season will be NEC's most famous and successful production, 'A Soldier's Play' by Charles Fuller, which NEC first presented in 1981 at Theatre Four.

Negro Ensemble to Revive DAUGHTERS OF THE MOCK at Theatre 80 St. Marks
by BWW News Desk - Apr 28, 2017


The 50th season of The Negro Ensemble Company, a year-long retrospective of some of the troupe's signature works, continues May 24 to June 10 at Theatre 80 St. Marks with 'Daughters of the Mock' by Judi Ann Mason.

Negro Ensemble to Continue 50th Anniversary with Remounts of ROSALEE PRITCHETT and THE PERRY'S MISSION
by BWW News Desk - Mar 15, 2017


This Spring, The Negro Ensemble Company, Inc. continues the celebration of its 50th Anniversary season, in which it is remounting classic plays of the company's past.

Douglas Turner Ward & Woodie King, Jr. Honored in Sidewalk Ceremony Today Theatre 80 St. Marks
by BWW News Desk - Nov 16, 2016


Today, November 16 at 4:30 PM, a Sidewalk Signing and Honors Ceremony will be held onstage at Theater 80 St. Marks, 80 St. Marks Place.

Douglas Turner Ward & Woodie King, Jr. to Be Honored in Sidewalk Ceremony at Theatre 80 St. Marks
by BWW News Desk - Nov 11, 2016


On Wednesday, November 16 at 4:30 PM, a Sidewalk Signing and Honors Ceremony will be held onstage at Theater 80 St. Marks, 80 St. Marks Place. 

Negro Ensemble Company to Launch 50th Season with DAY OF ABSENCE
by BWW News Desk - Nov 3, 2016


To launch its 50th anniversary season, The Negro Ensemble Company (NEC) will revisit its very first production, 'Day of Absence' (1966) by Douglas Turner Ward, with an eight-performance run December 4-11 at Theatre 80 St. Marks, 80 St. Mark's Place. The season will include three more productions at Theatre 80 St. Marks and one at La MaMa.

Negro Ensemble Company to Kick Off 50th Anniversary Season with DAY OF ABSENCE
by Ashlee Latimer - Nov 3, 2016


To launch its 50th anniversary season, The Negro Ensemble Company (NEC) will revisit its very first production, 'Day of Absence' (1966) by Douglas Turner Ward, with an eight-performance run December 4-11 at Theatre 80 St. Marks, 80 St. Mark's Place.  The season will include three more productions at Theatre 80 St. Marks and one at La MaMa.

Signature's HOME Ends Extended Run 1/11
by BWW News Desk - Jan 11, 2009


Signature Theatre Company's (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) will end their production of HOME today, Sunday, January 11th. HOME, by Samm-Art Williams and directed by Ron OJ Parson, is the second production of Signature's 2008-2009 season celebrating the historic Negro Ensemble Company (NEC). The show began performances on November 11th and opened December 7th at the Peter Norton Space located at 555 West 42nd Street (between 10th and 11th Avenues).

HOME At Signature Theater Extends Its Run Until 1/11
by Gabrielle Sierra - Jan 6, 2009


Signature Theatre Company's (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) production of HOME ends its limited run on Sunday, January 11th. The production, originally scheduled to close on Sunday, January 4th, was extended one week by popular demand. HOME, by Samm-Art Williams and directed by Ron OJ Parson, is the second production of Signature's 2008-2009 season celebrating the historic Negro Ensemble Company (NEC). The show began performances on November 11th and opened December 7th at the Peter Norton Space located at 555 West 42nd Street (between 10th and 11th Avenues).

Signature's HOME Extends Run To 1/11
by Gabrielle Sierra - Dec 9, 2008


Signature Theatre Company's (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) announced today that their production of HOME has been extended by popular demand for one week, from Sunday, January 4th to Sunday, January 11th. HOME, by Samm-Art Williams and directed by Ron OJ Parson, is the second production of Signature's 2008-2009 season celebrating the historic Negro Ensemble Company (NEC). The show began performances on November 11th and opened December 7th at the Peter Norton Space located at 555 West 42nd Street (between 10th and 11th Avenues).

Photo Coverage: Signature's HOME Opens Off-Broadway
by Peter James Zielinski - Dec 8, 2008


Signature Theatre Company's (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) production of HOME opened last night, Sunday, December 7. HOME is the second production of Signature's 2008-2009 Season, celebrating the historic Negro Ensemble Company (NEC).

Signature Theatre Company's HOME Opens Sunday, December 7
by Robert Diamond - Dec 6, 2008


Signature Theatre Company's (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) production of HOME opens this Sunday, December 7. HOME is the second production of Signature's 2008-2009 Season, celebrating the historic Negro Ensemble Company (NEC).

Signature Theatre's HOME Begins Peformances 11/11
by BWW News Desk - Nov 11, 2008


Signature Theatre Company's (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) production of HOME will begin previews on Tuesday, November 11. HOME is the second production of Signature's 2008-2009 Season, celebrating the historic Negro Ensemble Company (NEC).

Signature Theatre's HOME Begins Peformances 11/11
by Reynard Loki - Nov 10, 2008


Signature Theatre Company's (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) production of HOME will begin previews on Tuesday, November 11. HOME is the second production of Signature's 2008-2009 Season, celebrating the historic Negro Ensemble Company (NEC).

Zooman and the Sign FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What productions of Zooman and the Sign have there been?
Zooman and the Sign has had 4 productions including Off-Broadway which opened in 1980, Off-Broadway which opened in 1981, Off-Broadway which opened in 1994 and Off-Broadway which opened in 2009.
What awards has Zooman and the Sign been nominated for?
Zooman and the Sign has been nominated for several awards. Giancarlo Esposito was nominated for Performance at the Obie Awards, and Charles Fuller was nominated for Playwriting at the Obie Awards. Additionally, Giancarlo Esposito was nominated for Performance at the Theatre World Awards.
What awards has Zooman and the Sign won?
Zooman and the Sign has won several awards. Giancarlo Esposito received an Obie Award for his performance in the play. Charles Fuller also won an Obie Award for his playwriting. Additionally, Giancarlo Esposito was recognized with a Theatre World Award for his performance in the show.

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