Dr.  Jonathan Shandell, associate professor of Theatre Arts, published his second book, The American Negro Theatre and the Long Civil Rights Era, through University of Iowa Press. Dr. Shandell’s text is the first comprehensive analysis of American Negro Theatre (ANT), a historic group founded in 1940 that is widely considered to be one of the most important companies in the history of African American theatre.

Dr. Shandell’s research synthesizes oral histories, scripts, and journalistic accounts of ANT to shed light on this trailblazing, yet often forgotten, institution. His publication highlights the invaluable role ANT played in African American culture during the pre-Civil Rights era and fills a long-existing void in the written history of American theatre.