Larry Leon Hamlin (September 25, 1948 – June 6, 2007) was the founder and artistic director of the North Carolina Black Repertory Company as well as the founder and executive director of the National Black Theatre Festival.[1] His favorite personal expression was the word "marvtastic", a blend of the words "marvelous" and "fantastic".[2]

Biography

Born in Reidsville, North Carolina, Hamlin was a lover of theatre from an early age. Although he earned a degree in business administration at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, he later studied theatre at Brown University.[3]

During his studies at Brown, Hamlin was called back to North Carolina for a family emergency.[3] After the matter was resolved, Hamlin remained in Winston-Salem and established the North Carolina Black Repertory Company, the first local black theatre organization in the state.[4] Ten years later, he founded the National Black Theatre Festival with the support of Maya Angelou in order to feature the best in African-American theatre.[5]

Hamlin died at his home in Pfafftown, North Carolina following an extended illness.

References

  1. ↑ JOCELYN Y. STEWART (10 June 2007). "Larry Hamlin, 58; founded a festival for black theater". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  2. ↑ Winston-Salem Journal: "Founder of National Black Theatre Festival dies", June 6, 2007.
  3. 1 2 Robertson, Campbell (2007-06-08). "Larry Leon Hamlin, 58, Dies; Promoted Black Theaters". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
  4. ↑ Keuffel, Ken (2007). "The Curtain Closes - Larry Leon Hamlin: 1948-2007". The Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
  5. ↑ "National Black Theatre Festival History Page". National Black Theatre Festival. 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-07-03. Retrieved 2007-06-27.


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