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Ntozake Shange Biography (1948-)

Name is pronounced "En-to-zaki Shong-gay;" born Paulette L. Williams, October18, 1948, in Trenton, NJ; daughter of Paul T. (a surgeon) and Eloise (a psychiatric social worker and educator) Williams; married second husband, David Murray (a musician), July, 1977 (divorced). Addresses: Home: 231 NorthThird St., No. 119, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Office: Department of Drama, University of Houston, University Park, 4800 Calhoun Rd., Houston, TX 77004; c/oSt. Martins Press, 175 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010-7703.

Nationality

American

Ethnicity

African American

Gender

Female

Birth Details

October 18, 1948

Trenton, New Jersey, United States

Famous Works

• Credits; PRINCIPAL STAGE APPEARANCES
• Lady in Yellow, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When theRainbow Is Enuf, New York Shakespeare Festival (NYSF), Public Theatre, then Booth Theatre, both New York City, 1976.
• Also appeared in Where the Mississippi Meets the Amazon, NYSF, Public Theatre, New York City, 1977.
• Credits; PRINCIPAL STAGE WORK; DIRECTOR
• The Mighty Gents, New York Shakespeare Festival, Mobile Theatre, New York City, 1979.
• A Photograph: A Study in Cruelty, Equinox Theatre, New York City,1979.
• Credits; PRINCIPAL TELEVISION APPEARANCES
• PBS documentary about her own work.
• Writings;PLAYS
• For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf, Studio Rivbea, New York City, 1975, then New York Shakespeare Festival(NYSF), Public Theatre later Booth Theatre, both New York City, 1976, then Syracuse Stage Theatre, Syracuse, NY, 1981, published by Shameless Hussy Press,1976, and Macmillan, 1976.
• A Photograph: A Study of Cruelty, NYSF, Public Theatre, New York City, 1977.
• co-author, Where the Mississippi Meets the Amazon, NYSF, Public Theatre, New York City, 1977.
• Spell #7, NYSF, 1979.
• Boogie-Woogie Landscapes, NYSF, 1980.
• (translator) Mother Courage, 1980.
• (adaptor) Educating Rita, Alliance Theatre, Atlanta, GA, 1982.
• Writings;BOOKS
• Sassafras(novella), published by Shameless Hussy Press, 1976.
• Natural Disasters and Other Festive Occasions, published by Heirs,1977.
• Nappy Edges(poetry), published by St. Martin's, 1978.
• A Daughter's Geography (poems), published by St. Martin's, 1983.
• Betsey Brown: A Novel, published by St. Martin's, 1985.
• Ridin' the Moon in Texas: Word Paintings (responses to art in prose and poetry), published by St. Martin's, 1987.
• The Love Space Demands: A Continuing Saga, published by St. Martin's, 1991.
• Three Pieces, published by St. Martin's, 1992.
• I Live in Music(poem), edited by Linda Sunshine, illustrated by Romare Bearden, published by Stewart, Tabori & Chang (New York City), 1994.
• Liliane: Resurrection of the Daughter (fiction), published by St. Martin's, 1994.
• Whitewash, illustrated by Michael Sporn, published by Walker (NewYork City), 1997.
• If I Can Cook You Know God Can, published by Beacon Press, 1998.
• Writings;PERIODICALS
• Contributor: Black Scholar,Third World Women, Ms., and Yardbird.
• Writings;TELEPLAYS; SPECIALS
• Diana Ross Special, NBC.