Thoughts of a Colored Man
| Thoughts of a Colored Man | |
|---|---|
 2021 Broadway playbill | |
| Original language | English |
| Written by | Keenan Scott II |
| Characters | Happiness Love Lust Passion Depression Wisdom Anger |
| Genre | Drama |
| Premiere | |
| Date | Septemnber 9, 2019 |
| Place | Syracuse Stage |
Thoughts of a Colored Man is a play written by Keenan Scott II that opened on Broadway on October 13, 2021. It is Scott's Broadway debut,[1] and the play is the first Broadway show that was written and directed by Black men (Steve Broadnax III)[2] with a Black man in the lead role and lead produced by all Black artists.[3]
Plot
[edit]The show uses slam poetry, prose and songs to tell the story of Black life in America through the stories of seven multi generational men living in the same Brooklyn neighborhood.[4][5][6]
Production history
[edit]Scott began working on what is now Thoughts of a Colored Man fifteen years earlier when he was a Frostburg State University student.[7] The show had an out-of-town tryout at Syracuse Stage in a co-production with Baltimore Center Stage in 2019.[8][9][1] A December performance of the show was recorded for preservation in the New York Public Library Theatre on Film and Tape Archive.[10]
On May 24, 2021, the play was announced to open on Broadway in the fall of 2021. Directed by Steve H. Broadnax III, the cast featured Bryan Terrell Clark as Happiness, Dyllón Burnside as Love, Da'Vinchi as Lust, Luke James as Passion, Forrest McClendon as Depression, Esau Pritchett as Wisdom and Tristan Mack Wilds as Anger.[11] The play was slated to be one of seven plays by Black playwrights during the fall of that Broadway season.[12]
The production received mixed reviews, with praise for the cast, but criticism for the writing. The New York Times criticizing the device of personifications as characters and that Black women were "entirely forgotten" from the play.[13] Conversely, Deadline praised the production, calling it "a play of immense compassion and keen insight" and praised Scott's writing along with Broadnax's direction as "a marvel."[14]
The show officially opened at the Golden Theatre on October 13, 2021, and ran through December 22, 2021, when it was forced to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic, even though the playwright stepped in to cover one performance.[15][16][17] It was originally slated to end in March 2022. When it closed, the production had run for 12 previews and 77 performances.[18][10]
Awards and nominations
[edit]2021 Broadway production
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Music in a Play | Te'La and Kamauu | Nominated | [19] |
| Outstanding Projection Design | Sven Ortel | Nominated |
References
[edit]- 1 2 Grode, Eric (October 21, 2021). "'Thoughts of a Colored Man,' From University to Broadway". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
- ↑ "Theatre professor directs 'Thoughts of a Colored Man' on Broadway". Pennsylvania State University. November 24, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
- ↑ Clark, Roger (February 11, 2025). "Critically acclaimed Broadway show returns in Brooklyn". Spectrum News NY1. Charter Communications. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
- ↑ Oladipo, Gloria (October 18, 2021). "Thoughts of a Colored Man review – Black Brooklyn life explored on Broadway". The Guardian. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
- ↑ Young, Robin (October 18, 2021). "Broadway's 'Thoughts of A Colored Man' explores diversity, power, of Black mens' [sic] voices". Retrieved December 13, 2021.
- ↑ Phillips, Maya (October 13, 2021). "Review: 'Thoughts of a Colored Man' Preaches to the Choir". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
- ↑ White, Abbey (December 8, 2021). "Broadway's Black Playwrights on Legacy Theater and Their Vision for an Inclusive Industry". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
- ↑ "Beautifully provocative: 'Thoughts of a Colored Man' premieres at Syracuse Stage (review)". syracuse.com. September 12, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
- ↑ "Theatre Review: 'Thoughts of a Colored Man' at Baltimore Center Stage". MD Theatre Guide. October 22, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
- 1 2 Huston, Caitlin (December 1, 2021). "'Thoughts of a Colored Man' to be filmed by Theatre on Film and Tape Archive". Broadway News. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
- ↑ Evans, Greg (May 24, 2021). "'Thoughts Of A Colored Man' Sets Broadway Cast Including Keith David, Dyllón Burnside, Luke James". Deadline. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
- ↑ Paulson, Michael (September 16, 2021). "Broadway Is Brimming With Black Playwrights. But for How Long?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
- ↑ Green, Jesse (October 13, 2021). "'Thoughts of a Colored Man' Review: Giving Voice to Black Men". The New York Times. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
- ↑ Evans, Greg (October 13, 2021). "'Thoughts Of A Colored Man' Broadway Review: Seven Men And A Neighborhood Brought To Exhilarating Life". Deadline. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
- ↑ McPhee, Ryan (December 22, 2021). "When Thoughts of a Colored Man Almost Canceled Broadway Performance, Playwright Keenan Scott II Saved the Day". Retrieved December 27, 2021.
- ↑ Huston, Caitlin (December 24, 2021). "'Thoughts of a Colored Man' closes on Broadway". Retrieved December 27, 2021.
- ↑ White, Abbey (December 24, 2021). "'Waitress' and 'Thoughts of a Colored Man' Close on Broadway Amid COVID Surge". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ↑ "Thoughts of a Colored Man – Broadway Production – Awards". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
- ↑ Gillian Russo (June 8, 2022). "2022 Drama Desk Award winners announced". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
External links
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