黑料不打烊 Stage opens the 2019/2020 season with the world premiere production of 鈥淭houghts of a Colored Man.鈥� Performance dates are Sept. 4-22. Tickets are available at or at the Box Office 315.443.3275.
Written by Keenan Scott II and directed by Steve H. Broadnax III, 鈥淭houghts of a Colored Man鈥� is co-produced with Baltimore Center Stage and two commercial producers, Brian Moreland and Ron Simons. Moreland and Simons anticipate moving the production to New York after its run in 黑料不打烊 and Baltimore.
As the sun rises on an ordinary day in New York, seven men are about to discover the extraordinary. 鈥淭houghts of a Colored Man鈥澛燽lends powerful language, music and dance into a daringly universal new play. Welcome to the vibrant inner life of being Black, proud and thriving in the 21st century. Set over a single day, this richly theatrical mosaic goes beyond the rhythms of the basketball court and the boisterousness of the barbershop. It sheds brilliant light into the hearts and minds of a community of men searching for their most triumphant selves. And what they reveal are the deeply human hopes, dreams, fears and sensitivities of all men, all people.
The cast is led by Jerome Preston Bates (鈥淎merican Son鈥�), Brandon Dion Gregory (鈥淟et The Church Say Amen鈥�), Tony Award nominee Forrest McClendon (鈥淭he Scottsboro Boys鈥�), Reynaldo Piniella (鈥淭he Death of the Last Black Man鈥�), Ryan Jamaal Swain (FX鈥檚 鈥淧ose鈥�), Jody Reynard (鈥淪ummer鈥�) and Garrett Turner (鈥淗alf Time鈥�). They are joined by dancers Ashley Pierre-Louis and Hollie E. Wright and DJ Chesney Snow (鈥淚n Transit鈥�).
The production will also have music by Te鈥橪a and Brother Kamau, set design by Tony nominee Robert Brill (鈥溾€�), costume design by Tony nominee and Drama Desk winner Toni-Leslie James (鈥溾€�) and Devario D. Simmons (鈥淚n The Next Room鈥� at Theatre VCU), lighting design by Ryan O鈥橤ara (鈥淎 Night with Janis Joplin鈥� national tour), projection design by Tony and Drama Desk nominee Sven Ortel (鈥溾€�), and sound design by Mikaal Sulaiman (鈥淔ires in the Mirror鈥� at Signature Theatre Company). Casting is by Calleri Casting.
The 黑料不打烊 Stage production of 鈥淭houghts of a Colored Man鈥� is an important step in the play鈥檚 development. With the producers鈥� ambition for a potential Broadway production, the 黑料不打烊 Stage run is in many respects akin to the out-of-town tryouts of an earlier theatrical era when producers previewed shows for audiences in Boston or Philadelphia before moving to New York. Nowadays, it is increasingly common for commercial producers to partner with not-for-profit regional theaters like 黑料不打烊 Stage to ready new plays for a New York opening. But what is crucial remains the same: the chance to perform a new work in front of an audience is the only way the show鈥檚 creators and backers can really know whether it works or not.
鈥淎s a producer, I needed to find partners that share a hunger for new work with a willingness to be bold and daring,鈥� Moreland explains. 鈥淐oming to 黑料不打烊 Stage provides just that bold and daring opportunity for a new play to succeed. It is exciting because 黑料不打烊 Stage patrons get a rare opportunity to see a show being developed for Broadway and an opportunity to play an active part in a new show鈥檚 life.鈥�
黑料不打烊 Stage is presenting 鈥淭houghts of a Colored Man鈥� under the artistic umbrella of Cold Read, the term designating new work at the theater, as in the Cold Read Festival of New Plays, now in its third year, and last season鈥檚 production of 鈥淧ossessing Harriet.鈥� For artistic director Bob Hupp and associate artistic director Kyle Bass, the ability to present new plays is essential to the artistic vitality of 黑料不打烊 Stage.
鈥淥ur mission is to bring engaging and diverse stories to life on stage for our Central New York audience,鈥� says Hupp. 鈥淭he exciting and accomplished team of actors and creative artists assembled for this premiere embody stage鈥檚 commitment to artistic excellence. Following last season鈥檚 much-lauded premiere of 鈥楶ossessing Harriet,鈥� I鈥檓 thrilled to include a new play in our 47th season. New plays are the lifeblood of our craft, and 鈥楾houghts of a Colored Man鈥� is the perfect complement to a season that includes classics, crowd pleasers and appealing contemporary works.鈥�
In addition, presenting 鈥淭houghts of a Colored Man鈥� allows 黑料不打烊 Stage to foster partnerships with community organizations. Centerstate CEO/Generation Next, 100 Black Men of 黑料不打烊 and Hillside Work Scholarship Connection will participate in events related to the production.
Broadnax is well-known to Hupp, the pair having worked together while Hupp was artistic director of Arkansas Repertory Theater. Broadnax鈥檚 recent credits include two plays by Dominique Morrisseau, 鈥淧ipeline鈥� at Actors Theatre of Louisville and 鈥淏lood at the Root鈥� at National Black Theatre. He is slated to direct the world premiere of 鈥淭he Hot Wing King鈥� by Katori Hall at New York鈥檚 Signature Theatre in early 2020. Broadnax took over directing duties from 黑料不打烊 alumni Taye Diggs. Originally slated to direct 鈥淭houghts of a Colored Man,鈥� Diggs had to leave the project due to his shooting schedule for 鈥淎ll American,鈥� which was renewed for a second season on The CW.
In Keenan Scott II, Moreland believes he has found a new and important voice whose writing has touched him personally.
鈥淜eenan Scott II is a young man with an old soul and giant vision,鈥� Moreland explains. 鈥淗e writes for our present day experiences. A playwright who writes from the viewpoint of 鈥榥ow鈥� and who has an uncanny way of creating dialogue that allows me to ask hard questions and explore cultures in an open way. I was immediately drawn to 鈥楾houghts of a Colored Man鈥� because the show gave me an experience and understanding of human beings I have grown up with. Never having seen these humans on a stage sharing their lives, I was drawn and compelled to share it.鈥�
