Hope Clarke

Biography

Hope Clarke was a trailblazing American actress, dancer, and director who made history in 1995 as the first African-American woman to direct and choreograph a major staging of the opera-musical Porgy and Bess. Her critically acclaimed production celebrated the work's 60th anniversary and toured internationally, giving new life to a classic story. Clarke's groundbreaking achievement cemented her legacy as a champion of African-American community and pride in the arts.