MILNER, Ron(ald) 1938-2004

OBITUARY NOTICE—

See index for CA sketch: Born May 29, 1938, in Detroit, MI; died of complications from liver cancer July 9, 2004, in Detroit, MI. Author. Milner was a pioneering African-American playwright. Inspired to become an author by the literature he read while in high school, Milner had a desire to write about his own world in the inner-city neighborhood of Black Bottom, Detroit. At age nineteen Milner met Woodie King, who would later found the Concepts East Theater; King encouraged Milner's aspirations to be a writer, and soon the young playwright had written his first work, the one-act Life Agony. In 1966, Milner had his first big success with the off-Broadway production of his Who's Got His Own. Many more plays would follow, and Milner became known for his optimistic and moral views of the importance of family, community, and the ability to rise above one's hard circumstances with plays such as What the Wine-Sellers Buy (1973) and the musical Don't Get God Started (1987). Milner and King worked together as a team for over forty years, as King became production director at the New Federal Theater and Milner became known for works focusing on urban life and jazz. Among his other works are Season's Reasons (1976), Jazz-set (1980), and Defending the Light (2000). Milner also directed plays, most recently a 2003 production at the Hope Repertory Theatre.

OBITUARIES AND OTHER SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Detroit Free Press, July 10, 2004.

New York Times, July 17, 2004, p. A13.

ONLINE

Freep,http://www.freep.com/ (July 10, 2004).