First black woman to direct a play on Broadway (Don't Bother Me I Can't
Cope - 1972)
Founder and artistic director of the Urban Arts Corps, an organization
devoted to supporting black and Hispanic actors.
Has been nominated for Broadway's Tony Award three times: in 1973, as
Best Director (Musical) for "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope;" and in
1977, as both Best Director (Musical) and Best Book (Musical) for "Your
Arm's Too Short to Box with God."
She was awarded the 1972 NAACP Image Award for Best Direction for the play, "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope" at the Mark Taper Forum Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
She was awarded the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Distinguished Direction for the musical, "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope," at the Mark Taper Forum Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
[on the issue of Afro-American Theatre] We still need black theatre.
But I think we need to show black people just living, just trying to
get through the world with the problems other people have. Source:
Contemporary Authors interview with Jean W. Ross