Henry Kemp-Blair (April 15, 1930 – April 30, 1986) was a South African-born playwright, director, clergyman and educator that was instrumental in developing the theater program at Chapman University.[1]
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Henry Kemp-Blair | |
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Born | Henry John Kemp-Blair (1930-04-15)April 15, 1930 South Africa |
Died | April 30, 1986(1986-04-30) (aged 56) Orange, California, USA |
Occupation | Educator, clergyman, playwright |
Nationality | South African American |
Alma mater | Claremont College Chapman College Cal State Long Beach USC |
Period | 1960-1986 |
Spouse | Ramona |
Henry John Kemp-Blair was born April 15, 1930 in South Africa and immigrated to the United States in 1946. He studied theology at Claremont College. Kemp-Blair trained in theater arts at Chapman College, Cal State Long Beach and USC.[1][2] He became naturalized as a U.S. Citizen in 1975.[2]
In 1960, Kemp-Blair joined the faculty of Chapman where he was instrumental in developing their theatre arts program.[1] Spending over twenty-five years on the faculty, Kemp-Blair wrote, produced and directed a number of plays there.[3] One of his most famous plays is "The Tea Concession," a drama set in South Africa in which the racial positions of black and white are reversed.[4] He staged a production of the play in March 1966 at Chapman.[5]
He died of a heart attack on April 30, 1986. The night before his death, he had been rehearsing for "Dance Is," a dance show that was scheduled to open the day after his death.[3]
[Frank Silvera] planned to stage, with a biracial cast, "The Tea Concession," by Henry J. Kemp-Blair, which reversed the racial positions of black and white in drama about South Africa.