Answer :
Final answer:
While there is significant history regarding African American Theatre, there is no historical record of an individual with the names provided in the question (John Smith, Mary Johnson, Robert Davis, or Sarah Thompson) running the African American Music Theatre in New York just before the turn of the twentieth century. Important figures during the time include Bert Williams and George Walker, who opened 'In Dahomey' on Broadway and set the stage for later contributions during the Black Arts Movement.
correct answer: Non of the above
Explanation:
African American Music Theatre in New York Before 20th Century
The establishment of African American Theatre in New York before the turn of the twentieth century was a significant cultural development. This movement saw notable contributions from various artists, including Bert Williams and George Walker, who opened In Dahomey in 1903, the first full-length, all-black musical staged on a major Broadway venue. It is important to mention that there isn't a direct answer to who specifically ran the African American Music Theatre in New York just before the 20th century from the names mentioned in the question. The history provided on musical theatre suggests that the growth of this art form was more collaborative and wasn't attributed to a single individual named in the options provided.
As mentioned above, Williams and Walker's musical achieved remarkable success and was even performed in a truncated version for the King at Buckingham Palace. Furthermore, Bert Williams broke racial barriers by joining Ziegfeld's Follies of 1910, and by this milestone, he was earning a substantial sum, comparable to that of the President of the United States at the time. This era set the stage for later developments such as the Black Arts Movement and the contributions of trailblazers such as Val Gray Ward, Abena Joan Brown, and Jackie Taylor.
However, to directly answer the question provided: There is no historical record of a person with the name of John Smith, Mary Johnson, Robert Davis, or Sarah Thompson running the African American Music Theatre in New York just before the turn of the twentieth century among the critical figures mentioned in the historical context.
