The Year In Review In Black Theater, Part 1

2022 was one of the most magnificent years when it comes to the creativity and spotlighting of Black theatrical brilliance on and off Broadway. It was a year that saw two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage have three stupendous productions. This lady proves that you can do it all! Nottage started the year with “Intimate Apparel” and “Clyde’s” in January and followed up with “MJ: The Musical” in February. All three were firsts in a way. “Intimate Apparel” was her first time creating a libretto and she did it based on her play by the same name. “Clyde’s” was her new play, showing the unfair treatment given to ex-cons when they come out of prison. It was the first time she dealt with this subject. Of course, “MJ: The Musical” was her first venture into writing a musical and she did it about Michael Jackson to let audiences know about his life, his struggles, his genius — it is filled with more than 25 of his biggest hits. 

This was a year when Phylicia Rashad came back to Broadway and you had the likes of phenomenal Broadway directors Kenny Leon and Ruben Santiago-Hudson doing masterclasses in their craft with productions like “Topdog/Underdog” and “Skeleton Crew.”

In January 2022, “Intimate Apparel” played at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center on W. 65th Street. Lynn Nottage’s first time creating a libretto was done with superb grace. This opera was a close and personal look at Esther, a Black woman in the 1900s who lived in a house with other single Black women, worked by sewing sexy corsets for other women, but always wanted to find a husband, to be touched and loved. The stage full of some of the most beautiful Black and white operatic voices you would ever hear was magnificent. The story was touching and performed by a gifted cast with ease. The memorable cast included Kearstin Piper Brown, Justin Austin, Naomi Louisa O’Connell, Arnold Livingston, Adrienne Danrich, Krysty Swann and Errin Duane Brooks, along with a wonderful ensemble. 

“Clyde’s” played at the Helen Hayes Theatre on W. 44th Street. This delicious comedy/drama continued into the 2022 season. The play had a delectable small ensemble of actors who did a sumptuous job of bringing Nottage’s play to life. It told the story of four ex-cons trying to come back into society by working at a truck-stop sandwich shop owned by an ex-con named Clyde. The cast was delightful as they kept the heat, spice and sauciness coming. Cast members included Uzo Aduba as Clyde, Kara Young as Letitia, Reza Salazar as Rafael, Edmund Donovan as Jason and Ron Cephas Jones as Montellous. There was also fantastic direction by Kate Whoriskey.

January also saw a moving staged reading of “The Peacemaker” that honored Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It occurred via Zoom at the National Action Network (NAN). Written by and featuring Arnold Pinnix, it was presented by NAN Arts and Culture Committee chairperson Pinnix and the NAN Performing Activists in association with NAN Youth Huddle. The play focused on King reflecting on his life; his relationships with his father, wife Coretta and colleague Ralph Abernathy; and his struggles and dreams. Other featured cast members included Dominique Sharpton, Ashley Sharpton, Lorenzo Von, Cindy Philemon, Dr. Alvin Ponder and Shaneeka Powers.

February 2022 had quite a lot going on. Audiences were blessed with a New York City Center Encores! presentation of the beloved musical, “The Tap Dance Kid.” Lydia R. Diamond did the concert adaptation of the book by Charles Blackwell. It had phenomenal new, dazzling tap moves by choreographer Jared Grimes and was directed by one of the most talented and versatile directors in the theater today: Kenny Leon. The revival also had music by Henry Krieger, lyrics by Robert Lorick and guest musical direction by Joseph Joubert. It is the story of a 10-year-old Black boy who wants to be a tap dancer against his father’s wishes. It starred Alexander Bello (who had just been on Broadway in “Caroline, or Change”) as Willie, the tap dance kid, and he was amazing. The rest of the cast was also a dream come true and included Joshua Henry, Adrienne Walker, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Dewitt Fleming Jr., Trevor Jackson, Tracee Beazer and Chance Smith.

Black female playwright Dominique Morisseau had “Skeleton Crew” on Broadway in a riveting production that played at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on W. 47th Street. This play was a powerhouse that brought Phylicia Rashad back to Broadway in a role so uncharacteristic of her, but one she mastered. It had poignant direction by Ruben Santiago-Hudson. The play shared the plight of working men and women at an automotive plant in Detroit, Michigan. We witnessed their struggles and fears. The playwright showed how these workers were treated like machines. Rashad was joined on stage by a cast that beautifully delivered the playwright’s message with heart and humanity. The very capable cast also included Brandon J. Dirden, Joshua Boone and Chante Adams, along with dancer Adesola Osakalumi.

“Black No More,” a mind-blowing musical, was a stunningly creative theatrical piece that played at the Pershing Square Signature Center on W. 42nd St. It posed the question of Black people who are willing to sell out and want to be white: How far would you go? Would you allow science to give you a white mindset to the point that you would be against Black people? While the musical was funny, it was also scary, because it shouted for our community to wake up. The musical was presented by the New Group. It had a book by John Ridley; raps and song lyrics by Tariq Trotter; music by Trotter, Anthony Tidd, James Poyser and Daryl Waters; choreography by Bill T. Jones; and direction by Scott Ellis. This musical featured Trotter and a cast that had sensational, powerhouse voices: Lillias White, Brandon Victor Dixon, Tamika Lawrence, Ephraim Sykes and Jennifer Damiano.

Nottage was definitely on a roll in 2022, when her third production came alive. She wrote the book for “MJ: The Musical,” playing at the Neil Simon Theatre on W. 52nd Street. The musical is about the life, music and creative genius of Michael Jackson. The musical features more than 25 Jackson songs, from his beginnings with the Jackson 5 to his solo career. The superb cast included Myles Frost in the lead role. This exceptional cast also included Christian Wilson and Walter Russell III as Young Michael; Ayana George as Katherine Jackson; Quentin Earl Darrington as Joseph Jackson; and a phenomenal ensemble cast. The musical has outstanding choreography and direction by Christopher Wheeldon. While some cast members may have changed roles, they are still in the show and it is still going strong in 2023.

February also saw “Wicked” make history by casting the first Black Glinda — Brittney Johnson — and she was absolutely delightful. The audiences “couldn’t be happier.”

March 2022 saw Elizabeth Van Dyke, new producing artistic director of Woodie King Jr.’s New Federal Theatre, talking about directing the company’s upcoming work at the end of March: “Gong Lum’s Legacy,” written by Charles Wright. It looked at the case of Lum vs. Rice, where an Asian man wanted his daughter to go to an all-white school in Mississippi in 1925 and was told no. The play also showed the racism between Asian business owners and freed Blacks. The production was presented at the Theatre at St. Clements on W. 46th Street. The cast did a stunning job and included Alinca Hamilton, Anthony Goss, Eric Yang, Henry Yuk and DeShawn White.

April 2022 saw what Broadway’s best musicals are made of with “Paradise Square,” which played at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on W. 47th Street. The musical told the true story of the Draft Riots of 1863 in the Five Points area in lower Manhattan, when Irish immigrants and freed Blacks lived together, loved each other and had a special bond — that is, until Irish immigrants were drafted to fight in the war against slavery. The musical featured a detailed book by Christine Anderson, Craig Lucas and Larry Kirwan. Nathan Tysen and Masi Asare created the lyrics. Jason Howland created the music and did music supervision, music direction and orchestration. The musical had explosive, fantastic choreography by Gelan Lambert and Chloe Davis. Garrett Coleman and Jason Oremus created the Irish and Hammerstep choreography. Costumes were by Toni-Leslie James and direction by Moises Kaufman. The phenomenal production was full of back-to-back showstoppers and had a splendid mixed race cast, including Joaquina Kalukango, Chilina Kennedy, Nathaniel Stampley, Sidney DuPont, A. J. Shively, Kevin Dennis, Matt Bogart, John Dossett, Jacob Fishel and Gabrielle McClinton.

April saw another tremendous drama from Dominique Morisseau unfold at the Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at the Pershing Square Signature Center on W. 42nd Street, when her play “Confederates” put a focus on institutional racism. Morisseau, a Residency 5 Playwright at Signature Theatre, presented two women oddly connected: Sandra, a political science professor at an Ivy League school and Sara, a Black slave on a plantation. The playwright showed the racism both faced. The cast was amazing and included Michelle Wilson, Kristolyn Lloyd, Elijah Jones, Andrea Patterson and Kenzie Ross. The play was directed by Stori Ayers.

One of my favorite and most timeless productions — Ntozake Shange’s “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf” — had a glorious rebirth and served as a cathartic experience for Black women at the Booth Theatre on W. 45th Street. It presented the attributes of Black women: their love, their sacrifice, their devotion, their support of family and each other, but also their feeling of being marginalized and abused. It spoke of Black women not being able to hear their voices, but in doing so, allowed you very poignantly to hear those voices. Black women got to be seen at all the points of their existence. You got to experience their childhood innocence and then the cruelty that the world holds for them. This cast of ladies was absolutely unforgettable. Kenita R. Miller was astounding as the Lady in Red, Okwui Okpokwasili was moving as the Lady in Green, Stacey Sargeant was sizzling as the Lady in Blue, D. Woods was dynamite as the Lady in Yellow, Tendayi Kuumba was daunting as the Lady in Brown, Amara Granderson was tremendous as the Lady in Orange and Alexandria Wailes was remarkable as the Lady in Purple — signing her feelings while other women spoke the words. This was a production by a Black woman, performed by women and choreographed and directed by a Black woman, Camille E. Brown. It had my 19-year-old daughter and me in tears. I cried later when I heard of the early closing of this production due to low ticket sales. It’s so important that we support our people when they are telling our stories on Broadway.

History was made when Emilie Kouatchou became the first Black Christine in “Phantom of the Opera” on Broadway. For months, she was only performing the role three times a week, but then received word that she would play it as the principal. She does a splendid job.She is still doing the role and the musical has now been extended to April 2023.

April also saw the emergence of a bold, new musical, the likes of which had never been seen on Broadway before, as “A Strange Loop” took to the stage of the Lyceum Theatre on W. 45th Street. The audience was stunned by this unique work with a book, music and lyrics by Michael R. Jackson sharing a personal story with the audience through the lead character of Usher. Jackson was telling the traumas he suffered growing up as a Black, overweight, gay man who was looking for love, acceptance and understanding, but instead found rejection, condemnation and criticism from his mother, father and brother. No one was on his side. No one spoke up on his behalf. Jackson lets the audience experience his Thoughts — his fears, doubts, worries, frustration and insecurities — through Usher and the performances of six incredible actors who play Thoughts 1 through 6 and also switch off on in playing his mother and father. The actors also play his brother and friends. Usher is a theater usher and has aspirations of writing a musical about a Black, fat gay man, writing a musical about a Black, fat gay man. This musical, thank God, is still playing today, but will close on January 15, 2023. The cast of this musical has talent that is sublime. Jaquel Spivey, who plays Usher and is making his Broadway debut, brings both compassion and empathy to the role. He also has a wonderful singing voice. The other six actors give some of the most powerful, hilarious and memorable performances you will experience and include Antwayn Hopper, James Jackson Jr., L Morgan Lee, John-Michael Lyons, John-Andrew Morrison and Jason Veasey. One of the fantastic aspects of this musical is the non-traditional casting and how actors switch in the same role. Usher’s mother is played with a great deal of humor and heart by both Jackson and Morrison. Usher’s father is terrifically portrayed by Hopper and Veasey. This musical has delightful choreography by Raja Feather Kelly, and marvelous direction by Stephen Brackett.

May 2022 gave us well-deserved spotlights on Black female playwrights like Nottage, Morisseau, Shange and the incredible, late Alice Childress, as her treasure “Wedding Band” was performed at the Polonsky Shakespeare Center in Brooklyn on Ashland Place. It was presented and produced by Theatre for a New Audience as part of its residency of CLASSIX. The play focused on a forbidden love between a Black woman and a white man in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1918. The company of actors was exceptional and included Brittany Bradford, Thomas Sadoski, Rebecca Haden, Veanne Cox, Rosalyn Coleman, Rendrick Palmer, Elizabeth Van Dyke, Phoenix Noelle, Sofie Nesanelis and Max Woertendyke. The play’s direction was perfectly executed by Awoye Timpo. 

May 2022 also featured a delightful collaboration between the Public Theatre and the National Black Theatre. I think the Bard would have been thrilled to see his classic play “Hamlet” given a colorful twist by James IJames with his 2022 Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Fat Ham” at the Public Theater. This magnificently creative play gave “Hamlet” a spin that included an all-Black family, the murder of the cruel patriarch Papp, his brother Uncle Rev facilitating it and marrying his widow Tedra, and the ghost of the Papp bidding his gay Black son Juicy to avenge his death as Juicy prepared the backyard for the wedding reception. This stunning production showed the gem that emerged when the Public Theater and the National Black Theatre co-produced a work. It was remarkably directed by Public Theater associate artistic director/resident dDirector Saheem Ali. “Fat Ham” was a tasty tale that had your palate for Shakespeare satisfied, your funnybone tickled, your shock enticed and your mind swirling with delectable delight. My daughter Jasmine and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Marcel Spears as Juicy was absolutely brilliant. He made that character shine brightly and beautifully represented the Black gay community and the struggles and degradation they can go through from their own family members. Juicy was also well-versed in Shakespeare and did him proud. Nikki Crawford as his sexy, supportive mother Tedra was superb in the role of this bumping and grinding temptress. Her character was very funny and over the top, as were all the characters in this play. Billy Eugene Jones proved to be doubly evil and delightful as he portrayed both Rev and Papp. Chris Herbie Holland as Tio, the porn-watching, drug-taking, video game-playing cousin and confidante was absolutely hilarious. Adrianna Mitchell was a breath of fresh air as Opal, a lesbian who was made to wear dresses by her mother, Rabby. Rabby was an overbearing woman who didn’t want to recognize the truth about her daughter or her son Larry. She was marvelously played by Benja Kay Thomas. Calvin Leon Smith was stunning in his delivery of Larry. Seven was definitely a lucky number for “Fat Ham” because this cast of seven bought the laughter, joy, crazy and frequent breaking of the fourth wall, all of which completely engaged the audience and made you want more. And great news: It’s coming to Broadway in 2023!

June 2022 saw a dynamic revival of David Mamet’s “American Buffalo” at the Circle in the Square Theatre on W. 50th Street. The play starred the vibrant, veteran actor Laurence Fishburne in the role of Donny. Fishburne’s performance, along with those of his two co-stars Darren Criss and Sam Rockwell, grabbed the audience’s attention. These three men portray criminals and make you consider what you would do for that big score as you question if there is loyalty among thieves. Neil Pepe brought these marvelous actors together for this play with very raw language that was spoken at rapid speeds. It demanded your attention and it got it.

June 2022 also saw Blacks recognized at the Tony Awards as “A Strange Loop” came away with five Tony Awards, including best musical and best book of a musical for “MJ: The Musical.” Phylicia Rashad won the Tony for best performance by an actress in a featured role for her role in “Skeleton Crew.” Myles Frost won the Tony for best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical for his portrayal of Michael Jackson in “MJ: The Musical” and Joaquina Kalukango won for best performance by an actress in a leading role in a musical for “Paradise Square.”