Louis S. Peterson
| Louis S. Peterson | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born | Louis Stamford Peterson 17 June 1922 Hartford, Connecticut, USA |
| Died | April 27, 1998 (aged 75) New York, New York, USA |
| Occupation | Playwright, screenwriter |
| Nationality | United States |
| Information | |
| Period | 1953–1961 |
| Debut works | Take a Giant Step |
Louis S. Peterson (June 17, 1922 – April 27, 1998) was a playwright, actor, screenwriter, and professor. He was an American playwright and the first African-American playwright to have a dramatic play produced on Broadway. He was also one of the first African-American writers to be nominated for an Emmy Award.
Louis Stamford Peterson was born in Hartford, Connecticut on June 17, 1922. His father was Louis Peterson, Sr., and his mother was Ruth Conover Peterson, who both worked in the banking business. Peterson first planned to get a degree in music. In 1944 he graduated from Morehouse College earning a B.A. in English. In college he became involved in the Little Theatre and performed onstage. He attended Yale University (1944 to 1945), and then earned an M.A. in drama from New York University in 1947. In New York Peterson performed in Off-Broadway plays, and studied acting with noted teacher, Sanford Meisner, at the Neighborhood Playhouse, and he also studied at the Actors Studio. He studied playwriting, and worked closely with Clifford Odets. His first play, Take a Giant Step, was written while he was touring as an actor and stage manager in Carson McCullers’ play, The Member of the Wedding. On July 21, 1952 he married Peggy Feury. The marriage ended after nine years in 1961.
It was a significant step in Peterson's career when his first full-length play, Take a Giant Step, opened on Broadway in 1953. The play was welcomed with critical acclaim. The story focuses on the challenges of a black youth growing up in a white neighborhood. It starred Louis Gossett, Jr., who was a high school student at the time. It ran for eight weeks at the Lyceum Theater. In 1954, it was revived off-Broadway for 246 performances.
An article in the May 1991 issue of the magazine, Jump Cut, considers in detail Peterson’s play and screenplay, Take a Giant Step. The journal describes what Peterson’s work means culturally, how it broke down barriers, and surmounted obstacles. The article also describes those who were involved in making it a success and a pioneering work.
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