Landmark Musical Comedy 'In Dahomey' - Broadways First Black Play

On February 18, 1903, In Dahomey opened, at the New York Theater.

This was a landmark American musical comedy and was "the first full-length musical written, produced and performed by Blacks at a major Broadway Theater.

It featured music by Will Marion Cook from the book by Jesse A. Shipp, and lyrics by Paul Laurence Dunbar.

The production was produced by McVon Hurtig and Harry Seamon and starred Black actors James Smith and George Sisay and one of the leading comedians in America at that time, Bert Williams.

In Dahomey ran for 53 performances.

Source: African Ameerican Registry

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