After Vinnette Carroll, Perry became one of the first African-American women to direct on the New York stage. One of her early efforts was "Mau Mau Room," at the Negro Ensemble Company. It was the first major stage production of a play written by J. E. Franklin. In 1971, she staged three different productions: "Rosalie Pritchett", "Sty of the Blind Pig" and the original off-Broadway production of J. E. Franklin's play "Black Girl". The latter was made into a film, directed by Ossie Davis.