[“Thoughts of a Colored Man”]
This week producers Brian Moreland, Ron Simons, Diana DiMenna, Samira Wiley, and Sheryl Lee Ralph, announced that “Thoughts of a Colored Man,” the new play by Keenan Scott II, directed by Steve H. Broadnax III, will open on Broadway in the upcoming season at a Shubert theater to be announced.
Photo: Michael Davis
Photo: Michael Davis
This week producers Brian Moreland, Ron Simons, Diana DiMenna, Samira Wiley, and Sheryl Lee Ralph, announced that “Thoughts of a Colored Man,” the new play by Keenan Scott II, directed by Steve H. Broadnax III, will open on Broadway in the upcoming season at a Shubert theater to be announced.
Thoughts of a Colored Man will mark the Broadway debuts of both Scott and Broadnax. Scott’s new play “The Migration LP” is in development at New York Stage & Film and Broadnax most recently directed Katori Hall’s new play “The Hot Wing King” at Signature Theatre.
Producer Brian Moreland said, “Keenan’s play has been one of my favorite journeys. From our very first reading in 2017, his voice was raw, pure, and honest for our world today. Steve’s direction brings unbridled tenderness to the experience of the contemporary Black male with a full range of humanity. More than ever, it is vital for Broadway and theaters across America to make room for the next generation of theater makers: to celebrate their communities, to feel their heartache, and to hear the stories they are ready to tell. The entire producing team is humbled to play a small role in bringing Keenan Scott II and Steve H. Broadnax III to Broadway.”
Thoughts of a Colored Man had its critically acclaimed world premiere at Syracuse Stage under the artistic direction of Robert Hupp in fall of 2019 with a subsequent run later that year at Baltimore Center Stage (Stephanie Ybarra, Artistic Director).
Robert Hupp said, “Thoughts of a Color Man demonstrates the important role non-profit regional theater plays in the ecology of Broadway. Syracuse Stage, along with Baltimore Center Stage, was proud to premiere Thoughts of a Colored Man. Giving this play its first artistic home was a distinct honor, and we are thrilled to know Keenan’s powerful work will be among the first productions to reopen Broadway. It is the right play for right now.”
Over the course of a single day in the pulsing heart of Brooklyn, the hopes, sorrows, fears, and joys of seven men reverberate far beyond the barbershops and basketball courts of their community. Vulnerable and vibrant, raw and alive — these are the Thoughts of a Color Man.
A powerful theatrical testament by Keenan Scott II, Thoughts of a Color Man weaves spoken word, slam poetry, and rhythm into a mosaic of the inner lives of Black men and heralds the arrival of an essential new voice to the American theater.
The creative team for Thoughts of a Colored Man includes music by Te’La and Brother Kamau, set design by Tony Award® nominee Robert Brill, co-costume design by Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk Award® winner Toni-Leslie James and Devario D. Simmons, lighting design by Ryan O’Gara, projection design by Tony and Drama Desk Award nominee Sven Ortel, and sound design by Mikaal Sulaiman. Calleri, Jensen, & David serve as casting directors for the production.
Casting, first preview, opening night, and ticket information for Thoughts of a Colored Man will be announced in the coming weeks.
BIOGRAPHIES
Keenan Scott II (Playwright) is a native New Yorker, born and raised in Flushing, Queens. His work has been produced at Howard University, Gala Hispanic Theatre, National Black Theater, and the NYC Fringe Festival. Scott’s critically acclaimed piece Thoughts of a Colored Man has been workshopped and developed at The Arena Stage and the historic New York Theatre Workshop for private readings. The play had its world premiere at Syracuse Stage for their 2019-2020 season and transferred to Baltimore Center Stage to finish its regional run. He has also been commissioned for several pieces including being a part of the Play at Home series curated by Baltimore Center Stage, Long Wharf Theatre, The Public Theater, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. As well as having his piece Hashtag Me Not featured in a benefit for NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. called #WhileWeBreathe. His latest work The Migration LP is currently being developed at New York Stage and Film. He is also developing a series for TV entitled “The New Reform.” Keenan Scott II has just signed to A3 Artist Agency.
Steve H. Broadnax III (Director). Directing credits include various shows and theatre’s nationally and internationally including: Signature Theatre NYC; Actors’ Theatre of Louisville; Hattiloo Theatre; Syracuse Stage; Ensemble Studio Theatre Company NYC; Chautauqua Theatre Company; People’s Light Theatre; Apollo Theater NYC; Classical Theatre of Harlem; Atlantic Theater NYC; Detroit Public Theatre; Baltimore Center Stage; Cleveland Playhouse; The Black Theatre Troupe in Phoenix, AZ; Arkansas Repertory Theatre; Moore Theatre in Seattle; Market Theatre Johannesburg, SA; The Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland; National Arts Festival in South Africa; and The Adelaide Arts Festival in Australia. The Hip-Hop Project, an award-winning, full-length original play directed, choreographed, and conceived by Broadnax, has toured nationally and was showcased at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Other writings include American Taboo, Camouflage (Eugene O’Neil semifinalist), and Bayard Rustin: Inside Ashland (2021 world première at The People’s Light Theatre Company). As a member of Actor’s Equity Association (AEA) and Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), he has worked nationally and internationally. Broadnax is also a member of the Ensemble Studio Theatre and the National Theatre Conference in NYC. He as serves as the Resident Director at People’s Light Theatre. Training: BFA Conservatory of Fine Arts Webster University, MFA Penn State University. He is currently a Professor of Theatre at Penn State University.
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