Alvin Sanders

Alvin Sanders was born March 16, 1952, in Oakland, California. He was a performer from an early age (church choirs, talent shows, school plays) and in 1968 became a devotee of The Seattle Repertory Theater. "Devotee" was a fancy name the Seattle Rep (and the Actors' Equity Association) created for unpaid actors. They worked out a deal with the public school system that allowed students to perform in their shows in return for high school credits. For every 200 hours the student was involved in rehearsal and performance at the theater, he received 1/2 a credit toward graduation. The student also got a chance to work with professionals, to see and discuss with them the theater lifestyle. Alvin earned 1-1/2 credits over two years performing with the Seattle Rep. In 1969 (while still in high school and working at the Rep) he was a founding member of Black Arts/West Theater. By 1973 this theater (it disbanded in 1980) had become one of the largest black theaters in the US, second only to Th