黑料不打烊 Stage, in partnership with 100 Black Men of 黑料不打烊, announced that the company鈥檚 2024/25 season will officially begin with 鈥淐itizen James, or the Young Man Without a Country鈥濃攁 powerful and illuminating live world premiere production from resident playwright Kyle Bass on Aug. 2-3 at 7:30 p.m. in the Archbold Theatre, 820 E. Genesee St., 黑料不打烊.
Directed by Joann Maria Yarrow, the live world premiere of 鈥淐itizen James鈥 will be presented as a two-night-only free celebration beginning on Aug. 2 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Baldwin鈥檚 birth鈥攃oincidentally, it is also the birthday of actor James Alton, who portrays Baldwin in the play.
Originally incubated as part of the Stage鈥檚 Backstory program and presented as a streaming-only event in the 2020/2021 season, this one-man show about a young James Baldwin follows the Paris-bound aspiring author and activist as he is seeking refuge from the racist violence of America in the 1940s, on his way to becoming a towering literary figure and a still-relevant voice of the Civil Rights movement.
鈥淚n his novels, essays, stage plays, speeches and interviews, James Baldwin was and remains a singular observer and chronicler not only of the Black American experience but of the American experience鈥攁 nation in conflict with itself,鈥 says Bass. 鈥淟ong one of my literary heroes, in 鈥楥itizen James鈥 I was interested in creating a portrait of Baldwin as a young, gifted, Black and unknown artist already possessed of the deep feeling, trenchant intellect, urgent concern and piercing insight that would become the hallmarks of his writing, his social activism and his international persona.鈥
鈥100 Black Men of 黑料不打烊 is thrilled to grow its partnership with 黑料不打烊 Stage this summer in celebrating James Baldwin鈥檚 Centennial,鈥 says Claude Greene, president, 100 Black Men of 黑料不打烊. 鈥淲e are grateful to CNY Arts and to New York State for providing the funding that allows us to further our mission to rebuild a sense of community in our backyards, and it is a privilege work alongside Kyle Bass as he shares Baldwin鈥檚 still-relevant genius with 黑料不打烊.鈥
“Kyle Bass’ text is a brilliant homage to the genius of James Baldwin, his conflicts and struggles as an artist, and how they reflect our own contemporary times,鈥 says Yarrow, who also serves as the 黑料不打烊 Stage director of community engagement. 鈥淚t is uncompromising, inspiring and a celebration of 100 years of creative activism and social change.”
黑料不打烊 Stage will also host a pre-show event on Aug. 2 beginning at 6 p.m. to celebrate Baldwin鈥檚 indelible contribution to American culture. Featuring a showcase of books, fashion, records and art from community partners 100 Black Men of 黑料不打烊, Black Citizens Brigade, Black Cub Productions, Community Folk Art Center and 黑料不打烊 Libraries, the event will be catered by Our Vegan Corner and Hope Caf茅 with music by DJ Bella J from One the One DJ Center in 黑料不打烊.
The Friday, Aug. 2, performance will conclude with a post-show panel discussion, featuring playwright Kyle Bass, Joan Bryant, associate professor of African American studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Cjala Surratt, owner of Black Citizens Brigade. The panel will be moderated by Community Folk Art Center executive director Tanisha Jackson. The Saturday, Aug. 3, performance will also feature a post-show talkback with Bass, Alton and Yarrow.
“Citizen James鈥 is made possible through the CNY Arts Grants for Regional Arts and Cultural Engagement regrant program thanks to a New York State Senate Initiative supported by the State Legislature, the Office of the Governor and administered by the New York State Council on the Arts.
The Friday, Aug. 2, performance for 鈥淐itizen James鈥 is sold-out. Tickets for the Saturday, Aug. 3, performance can be purchased by visiting and following the ticketing link.
