Historical Background, Dramaturgy, and Design
Explore the historical context of Big White Fog, its dramaturgy, and the design of Court Theatre’s production.
Historical Background
Learn more about the real-life neighborhood and historical figures referenced in Theodore Ward’s masterpiece.
More- Washington Park: Read about the rich history of this Chicago neighborhood, home to the Mason family — and Count Theatre’s Production Center
- Marcus Garvey: The leader of the UNIA and Back to Africa Movement, and Victor Mason’s leader
- Marcus Garvey: Black Nationalism – Fast Facts | History (4:15)
- Marcus Garvey – Garveyites And The Garveyism Movement (Black History Animated) (11:00)
- The Black Titanic: Marcus Garvey’s Doomed White Star Line (11:00)
- Marcus Garvey -UNIA -Black Star Line (2:00)
- Marcus Garvey – Black Moses – US History – Extra History (11:30)
- The Story of Marcus Garvey A Documentary (2:01:00)
- The Pullman Company and Pullman Porters: Dan works as a Pullman Porter — famous in Chicago and beyond for their work on railcars
- The Great Depression: The play takes place between 1922 and 1932, and we see the impact of a crashing economy on the Mason family
- The Great Depression: Crash Course Black American History #28 (12:00)
- The Great Depression: Crash Course US History #33 (14:30)
- The Great Depression Explained Like You’re 5 (16:30)
- The Great Depression – America’s Biggest Economic Crisis | Free Documentary History (55:00)
- What HAPPENED To African Americans During The Great Depression? (37:30)
- The Great Migration: The Mason family were part of the huge number of Black Americans that left the south for the promise of opportunities
Image courtesy of the Farm Security Administration – Office of War Information Photograph Collection (Library of Congress) (https://www.loc.gov/item/2017715805/)
Image courtesy of the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA (http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print)
Image courtesy of the Collections of the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture) (https://www.marinersmuseum.org/2021/02/marcus-garveys-black-star-line/)
Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, George Grantham Bain Collection (https://www.marinersmuseum.org/2021/02/marcus-garveys-black-star-line/)
Image retrieved February 18, 2021 from Virginia Commonwealth University website (https://driehausmuseum.org/blog/view/pullman-porters)
Image courtesy of the Driehaus Museum (https://driehausmuseum.org/blog/view/pullman-porters)
Image courtesy of the Library of Congress (https://www.wttw.com/playlist/2019/02/22/pullman-porters)
Image courtesy of Encyclopædia Britannica, UPI/Bettmann Archive
Image courtesy of https://explorethearchive.com/the-great-migration-books
Image P0001.003, Photographs of Steamships, Motor Vessels and Ocean Liners https://www.marinersmuseum.org/2021/02/marcus-garveys-black-star-line/
Dramaturgy
Check out these resources that shed light on the motifs, themes, and creative elements that inform Big White Fog, providing a glimpse into the dramaturgical research that went into this production.
More- Colorism
- Economic Systems and the Bolsheviks
- Capitalism and Socialism: Crash Course World History #33 (14:00)
- Communism Vs Socialism Vs Capitalism | What’s the difference between Communism Socialism Capitalism? (2:50)
- Capitalism, Socialism, Communism: Distinguishing Important Economic Concepts (Article)
- Communism vs. Socialism: What’s The Difference? (4:00)
- The Revolution That Shaped Russia | National Geographic (4:00)
- History vs. Vladimir Lenin – Alex Gendler (6:45)
- Music
- The Black Music Project: Early 20th Century (Website)
- Blues Queens and Race Records in the 1920s (a Ballad of America playlist) (Spotify playlist)
- St. Louis Blues (16:00)
Design
Behind the Scenes: Big White Fog is a massive theatrical undertaking, with a hyperrealistic set and 17 characters. Learn how Scenic Designer Jack Magaw and Costume Designer Yvonne L. Miranda rose to the challenge and brought the world of the Mason family to life.
Posted on September 10, 2025 in Learning Guides, Productions