Douglas Turner Ward

Douglas Turner Ward (May 5, 1930 – February 20, 2021) was an American playwright, actor, director, and theatrical producer. He was noted for being a founder and artistic director of the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC). He was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play in 1974 for his role in The River Niger, which he also directed.

Early life Ward was born Roosevelt Ward Jr. in Burnside, Louisiana, on May 5, 1930. His parents, Roosevelt Ward and Dorothy (Short), were poor farmers who also owned a tailoring business. They relocated to New Orleans when Ward was eight years old, and he went to Xavier University Preparatory School. He was accepted by Wilberforce University in 1946, before transferring to the University of Michigan. He majored in politics and theater, but dropped out of college at the age of 19 and relocated to New York City. There, he became friends with Lorraine Hansberry and Lonne Elder III. 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. It ultimately ran for 504 performances over 15 months, and Douglas Powell Ward. Lucille Lortel Theatre Drama Desk Award nomination 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

Day of Absence St. Mark's Playhouse Part of a program of two one-act plays with Brotherhood Brotherhood St. Mark's Playhouse Writing

1983 The Redeemer Theatre Four Part of a program of three one-act plays, entitled About Heaven and Earth

Day of Absence St. Mark's Playhouse

Day of Absence St. Mark's Playhouse Part of a program of two one-act plays with Happy Ending Happy Ending Johnny Williams St. Mark's Playhouse Mr. Russell B. Parker St. Mark's Playhouse Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Performance 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