Introduction
Douglas Turner Ward (born May 5, 1930) is an American playwright, actor, director, and theatrical producer best known as a founder and artistic director of the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC).
Personal life
His birth name was, Roosevelt Ward Jr., and he was born in Burnside, Louisiana. His mother was Dorothy Ward (née Short) and his father was Roosevelt Ward.
Ward is married to Diana Powell Ward. They have a daughter, Elizabeth Ward.
Career
As an actor, Turner made his Broadway debut in a small role in A Raisin in the Sun. His first significant artistic achievement would be as a playwright, however. Happy Ending/Day of Absence, a program of two one-act plays, premiered at the St. Mark's Playhouse in Manhattan on November 15, 1965, and ran for 504 performances. Ward received a Drama Desk Award for his playwrighting.
In 1967, he was one of the founders of the Negro Ensemble Company and served for many years as its artistic director.
Selected credits
Theatre
Directing
| Year | Production | Theatre(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | A Soldier's Play | Lucille Lortel Theatre | Drama Desk Award nomination |
| 1980 | Zooman and the Sign | Theatre Four | |
| 1979 | Home | St. Mark's Playhouse | |
| 1975 | The First Breeze of Summer | St. Mark's Playhouse | |
| 1972 | The River Niger | St. Mark's Playhouse | |
| 1970 | Day of Absence | St. Mark's Playhouse | Part of a program of two one-act plays with Brotherhood |
| Brotherhood | St. Mark's Playhouse | Part of a program of two one-act plays with Day of Absence | |
| 1968 | Daddy Goodness | St. Mark's Playhouse |
Writing
| Year | Production | Theatre(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | The Redeemer | Theatre Four | Part of a program of three one-act plays, entitled About Heaven and Earth |
| 1970 | Day of Absence | St. Mark's Playhouse | Part of a program of two one-act plays with Brotherhood |
| Brotherhood | St. Mark's Playhouse | Part of a program of two one-act plays with Day of Absence | |
| 1969 | The Reckoning | St. Mark's Playhouse | |
| 1965 | Day of Absence | St. Mark's Playhouse | Part of a program of two one-act plays with Happy Ending |
| Happy Ending | St. Mark's Playhouse | Part of a program of two one-act plays with Day of Absence |
Acting
| Year | Production | Role | Theatre(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Tigus | Tigus | Theatre Four | Part of a program of three one-act plays, entitled About Heaven and Earth |
| 1975 | The First Breeze of Summer | Harper Edwards | St. Mark's Playhouse | |
| 1972 | The River Niger | Johnny Williams | St. Mark's Playhouse Brooks Atkinson Theatre |
Obie Award, Distinguished Performance Tony Award nomination, Best Featured Actor in a Play |
| 1969 | Ceremonies in Dark Old Men | Mr. Russell B. Parker | St. Mark's Playhouse | Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Performance |
| 1959 | A Raisin in the Sun | Moving Man Bobo (understudy) Walter Lee Younger (understudy) |
Ethel Barrymore Theatre Belasco Theatre |
Awards and nominations
- 1966 Drama Desk Award for Happy Ending and Day of Absence
- 1968 Drama Desk Award (with Robert Hooks and Gerald S. Krone, Negro Ensemble Company)
- 1969 Drama Desk Award (Outstanding Performance) for Ceremonies in Dark Old Men
- 1969 Tony Award Special Award (with Robert Hooks and Gerald S. Krone, Negro Ensemble Company)
- 1974 Tony Award, Best Play (with Robert Hooks and Gerald S. Krone, Negro Ensemble Company) for The River Niger
- 1974 Tony Award nomination, Best Featured Actor in a Play for The River Niger
- 1976 Tony Award nomination, Best Play (with Robert Hooks and Gerald S. Krone, Negro Ensemble Company) for The First Breeze of Summer
- 1979 Drama Desk Award nomination, Outstanding New Play (with Robert Hooks and Gerald S. Krone, Negro Ensemble Company) for Nevis Mountain Dew
- 1982 Drama Desk Award nomination, Outstanding New Play (with Robert Hooks and Gerald S. Krone, Negro Ensemble Company) for A Soldier's Play
- 1982 Drama Desk Award nomination, Outstanding Director of a Play for A Soldier's Play