Name Henry Kemp-Blair Works with Edgar Sholund | Period 1960-1986 Spouse Ramona | |
Born Henry John Kemp-BlairApril 15, 1930South Africa ( 1930-04-15 ) Occupation Educator, clergyman, playwright Alma mater Claremont College, Chapman University, California State University, Long Beach, University of Southern California | ||
Nationality South AfricanAmerican | ||
Henry Kemp-Blair (April 15, 1930 – April 30, 1986) was a South African-born playwright, director, clergyman and educator that was instrumental in developing the theater program at Chapman University.
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Background
Henry John Kemp-Blair was born April 15, 1930 in South Africa and immigrated to the United States in 1946. He studied theology at Claremont College. Kemp-Blair trained in theater arts at Chapman College, Cal State Long Beach and USC. He became naturalized as a U.S. Citizen in 1975.
Career
In 1960, Kemp-Blair joined the faculty of Chapman where he was instrumental in developing their theatre arts program. Spending over twenty-five years on the faculty, Kemp-Blair wrote, produced and directed a number of plays there. One of his most famous plays is "The Tea Concession," a drama set in South Africa in which the racial positions of black and white are reversed. He staged a production of the play in March 1966 at Chapman.
Death
He died of a heart attack on April 30, 1986. The night before his death, he had been rehearsing for "Dance Is," a dance show that was scheduled to open the day after his death.