Afro-Atlantic Dramas

the Theater of James Baldwin lands on São Paulo stage (1966)

Abstract

This article analyzes and reconstructs the 1966 staging of Blues for Mister Charlie, a play by James Baldwin, performed by the Grupo Teatral do Negro (GTN) in São Paulo, Brazil. It situates the production within its broader socio-historical and artistic context, examining both its critical reception and the cultural climate of the time. Drawing on dramaturgical and theoretical materials, as well as primary historical sources - particularly archival press and critical documents - the study highlights diasporic dialogues between Black theatrical scenes in São Paulo and New York. Special attention is given to GTN’s role in the cultural flows of the so-called Black Atlantic. The article further explores the strong presence of Black theater during Brazil’s civil-military dictatorship (1964–1985), contributing to a more inclusive and critical historiography of Brazilian theater. As the first production of a Baldwin play in Brazil, the performance marked a significant political and aesthetic milestone, echoing the voice of one of the 20th century’s most prominent and radical African American intellectuals. It forged connections between racial and political resistance in Brazil and the African American Civil Rights Movement in the United States.