Keeping the Curtain Up: Todd Evans Talks the Enduring Legacy of His Father, Donald T. Evans

The name Donald T. Evans is synonymous with artistic excellence. In his remarkable career, he was a prolific playwright, educator, and a significant figure in the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 70s. A resident of Trenton, Evans was an associate professor at Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey), where he chaired the Afro-American Studies Department. The Don Evans Black Box Theater at the college is named after him.

Additionally, he was an adjunct professor at Princeton University and a visiting professor of theater arts at Rutgers University. A prolific writer, Evans wrote essays and articles for Black World, Essence, Players, and Pride.

Some of his most notable plays include One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show, It’s Showdown Time, and The Taming of the Shrew,  a creative adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play relocated to a Black neighborhood in Philadelphia.’

Todd Evans, Donald’s son, is committed to preserving his father’s legacy. As the founder of Don Evans Productions and the Don Evans Players, Todd envisions not only bringing the works of his father to another generation but also honoring all the creative artists from Trenton.

On Saturday, May 23, 2026, at 12:30 PM, a reading of A Love Song for Ms Lydia, a play by Donald Evans that centers on the lives and relationships of older African American characters, will be hosted at the Trenton Free Public Library. During the event, a special tribute will honor the life and work of another legendary playwright from Trenton, Ntozake Shange.

Todd recently spoke with the Trenton Journal, and spoke about what inspired his father’s writings, his belief in the power of art, and why Trenton can never forget the beauty and pain of its past.

When asked what sparked his father’s writing, Todd shared that the uplift of Black people was central to the mission of Donald T. Evans.

“My father wrote Black plays about what was going on at that time and what is still pretty much going on at this time. He ran a community theater group in Trenton called the “Players Company” with a lot of Black playwrights from that time such as Ed Bullins and Alice Childress,” Todd explained. “He also started a playwright summit with August Wilson, who wrote Fences. He was a major part of the Black Arts Movement and the Negro Ensemble Company that produced folks like James Earl Jones.”

According to Todd, Trenton is filled with Black history that has been tragically neglected. He shared how the loss of such monumental figures and achievements of the past will eventually cause the loss of the future.

“A lot of the history in Trenton has been lost and not really respected. I like to think that a city that does not recognize its own history is going to be hard for that city itself to be remembered,” said Todd. “So one of the things I’ve wanted to do since I grew up in Trenton is to put a spotlight on some of the great Black artists that we have.”

“My dad rented out a basement of Grace Baptist church back in Trenton in the 70s. He would do A Raisin in the Sun, some of his plays, and those of other playwrights. There would be regular old folks coming there and just having a good time.”

Originally airing on New Jersey Public Television in February 1982, A Lovesong for Ms. Lydia starred Earle Hyman, who would go on to play Russell Huxtable, the father of Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable in The Cosby Show. Starring alongside was Paulene Myers, another acclaimed actor. At the Trenton Library, the actors performing the play include Todd, Kyle Moore, Blaze Murray, Nichole Bridgewater, Jamirah Heyward, and Kierstin Tonic. Todd shared what he hopes the audience will take away from the highly anticipated performance.

“I hope the play will spark an interest in my father’s play, but plays from that era. There were so many great playwrights,” Todd said. “It’s also giving people a chance to hear a classic Black play done by Black actors.”

“We have Nikki Bridgewater, who spent quite some time on Broadway. We have two screen actors and stage actors, and it’s like giving back to the community,” Todd added. “One thing my father was really good at was writing how his people talked. So anybody in the audience will be able to relate to something. They’ll say, “I got an uncle or aunt just like that.”