Eden (Steve Carter play)

; Joseph Barton: The main character of the play. A recent Caribbean immigrant to the United States and follower of Marcus Garvey. ; Annetta Barton: Joseph's daughter. She falls in love with Eustace Baylor, an African-American from the South, which causes the central conflict within the story. ; Eustace Baylor: An African American from the rural South than falls in love with Annette. ; Solomon Barton: One of Joseph's sons. ; Nimrod Barton: One of Joseph's sons. ==Plot synopsis==

Set in the San Juan Hill section of New York City in 1927, Joseph Barton, a recent Caribbean immigrant and follower of Marcus Garvey discovers to his horror that his daughter is keeping company with an uneducated African American man from the rural South. ==Origins of the play==

Eden is loosely based on the story of the playwright's parents. Horace Carter, Sr., a native of Virginia, and his wife, Carmen, who was born in New York of Caribbean descent, lived in New York City at the time of their son's birth. ==Original off-Broadway production==

• Directed by Edmund Cambridge • Produced by Negro Ensemble Company (NEC) • Executive Director: Robert Hooks • Artistic Director: Douglas Turner Ward • Managing Director: Frederick Garrett • Set Designer: Pamela S. Peniston • Costume Designer: Edna Watson • Lighting Designer: Sandra L. Ross • Production Stage Manager: Clinton Turner Davis • Opened: March 3, 1976 at St. Mark's Playhouse (transferred to Theatre De Lys on May 14, 1976) Cast • Graham Brown - Joseph Barton • Shirley Brown — Annetta Barton • Barbara Montgomery - Aunt Lizzie • Ethel Ayler - Florie • Samm-Art Williams - Eustace Baylor • Laurence Fishburne - Solomon Barton • Nate Farrell — Nimrod Barton • Ramona King — Agnes Replacements • James Warden, Jr. - Solomon Barton, ==Los Angeles production (West Coast premiere)==

• Directed by Edmund Cambridge • Produced by Los Angeles Actors Theatre • Opened: December 2002 at Los Angeles Actors Theatre Cast • Carl Lumbly - Joseph Barton • Cheryl Francis - Annetta Barton • Harold Sylvester - Eustace Baylor • Marilyn Coleman • Ralph Carter • J Marshall Evans • Larry B. Scott ==Feature film project==

In 1985, Carter wrote the screenplay A Time Called Eden, based on his play. It was set to go into production the following year, however, to date, the project remains unproduced. ==Awards and nominations==

Awards • 1976 Outer Critics Circle Award • 1976 Audelco Award • 1980 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award - Direction (Edmund Cambridge) • 1980 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award - Lead Performance (Carl Lumbly) • 1980 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award - Playwrighting (steve carter) • 1980 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award - Production (Los Angeles Theatre Center) • 1980 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award - Supporting Performance (Marilyn Coleman) ==Notes==