The Co-Founders of The Negro Ensemble Company - Robert Hooks, Douglas Turner Ward, and Gerald S. Krone

The Co-Founders of The Negro Ensemble Company - Robert Hooks, Douglas Turner Ward, and Gerald S. Krone

Douglas Turner Ward performing in his play "Day of Absence" in 1965

Douglas Turner Ward performing in his play "Day of Absence" in 1965

Robert Hooks and Douglas Turner Ward at the NEC's home - St. Marks Playhouse on Second Avenue and St. Marks Place, New York City (1967)

Robert Hooks and Douglas Turner Ward at the NEC's home - St. Marks Playhouse on Second Avenue and St. Marks Place, New York City (1967)

The Negro Ensemble Company’s first play, “Song of the Lusitanian Bogey” (1967) in rehearsal with Douglas Turner Ward and original cast members

The Negro Ensemble Company’s first play, “Song of the Lusitanian Bogey” (1967) in rehearsal with Douglas Turner Ward and original cast members

Robert Hooks, Douglas Turner Ward, Esther Rolle, and Frances Foster in Douglas Turner Ward's play "Happy Ending"

Robert Hooks, Douglas Turner Ward, Esther Rolle, and Frances Foster in Douglas Turner Ward's play "Happy Ending"

NEC production of "Ceremonies in Dark Old Men" with Rosalind Cash, Bill Jay, and Douglas Turner Ward

NEC production of "Ceremonies in Dark Old Men" with Rosalind Cash, Bill Jay, and Douglas Turner Ward

Douglas Turner Ward and Robert Hooks in the NEC's 1967-68 production of "Kongi's Harvest"

Douglas Turner Ward and Robert Hooks in the NEC's 1967-68 production of "Kongi's Harvest"

Robert Hooks, Douglas Turner Ward, and Gerald S. Krone with original members of the Negro Ensemble Company

Robert Hooks, Douglas Turner Ward, and Gerald S. Krone with original members of the Negro Ensemble Company

Michael Schultz and Douglas Turner Ward directing NEC's 1971 production of "The Sty of the Blind Pig"

Michael Schultz and Douglas Turner Ward directing NEC's 1971 production of "The Sty of the Blind Pig"

Al Hirschfeld's drawing of Douglas Turner Ward in the 1976 production of Charles Fuller's play "The Brownsville Raid" [NY Times]

Al Hirschfeld's drawing of Douglas Turner Ward in the 1976 production of Charles Fuller's play "The Brownsville Raid" [NY Times]

Backstage with the cast of NEC's 1981-83 production of "A Soldier's Play" are Rosalind Cash, Douglas Turner Ward, and Sidney Poitier

Backstage with the cast of NEC's 1981-83 production of "A Soldier's Play" are Rosalind Cash, Douglas Turner Ward, and Sidney Poitier

A more recent photo of the NEC founders - Robert Hooks, Douglas Turner Ward, and Gerald S. Krone

A more recent photo of the NEC founders - Robert Hooks, Douglas Turner Ward, and Gerald S. Krone