Henry Kemp-Blair

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.

Biography

Background 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. He became naturalized as a U.S. Citizen in 1975. 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. He staged a production of the play in March 1966 at Chapman.

Death

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.