Negro Experimental Theatre

The Negro Experimental Theatre, also known as the Harlem Experimental Theatre, was an American theatrical company that emerged from the Krigwa Players. Founded in the early 1920s, it was based at the 135th Street Public Library in Harlem, New York City. The company was instrumental in encouraging serious Black theatre and Black playwrights.1

The Negro Experimental Theatre produced plays by Black authors, including Regina M. Anderson's Climbing Jacob's Ladder (1931) and Underground (1932). These productions aimed to present authentic Black experiences and counter the damaging stereotypes perpetuated by minstrelsy. The theatre served as an inspiration to similar groups across the country and contributed to the flourishing of Black theatre during the Harlem Renaissance.123