Final Amiri Baraka Play to Get Off-Broadway World Premiere By Woodie King, Jr. | Playbill

News Final Amiri Baraka Play to Get Off-Broadway World Premiere By Woodie King, Jr. Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre will stage the final play by Amiri Baraka, The Most Dangerous Man In America (W. E. B. Du Bois), at the Castillo Theater Off-Broadway this spring.

Directed by King, Jr., performances are scheduled for May 28-June 28, with an opening night set for June 11.

Baraka's final play follows W.E.B. DuBois, co-founder of the NAACP, a scholar and political activist who was indicted in 1951 by the U.S. government at the age of 82 for being "an agent of foreign power." The story moves back and forth between the opinions of the Harlem community, witnesses' testimony and courtroom battles. Real-life footage of historical events and speeches will also be part of the production.

The cast will feature Art McFarland as W. E. B. Du Bois and Petronia Paley (On Golden Pond) as his wife with Arthur Bartow, Michael Basile, Marie Guinier, Ralph McCain, Zuhariah McGil, Nick Plakias, Stu Richel, Joyce Sylvester, and Landon G. Woodson, along with Lamar K. Cheston, Keldrick Crowder, Sidiki Fofana, Michael Green, Te'la Curtis Lee, Robert Siverls and Akil N. Williams.

Born Everett LeRoi Jones, Baraka was one of the century's most significant African-American writers of poetry, drama, fiction and essays. His numerous literary honors included fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

"Amiri Baraka and I shared a 50 year friendship," explains director King, Jr. "He had incredible vigor and forcefulness...look at the incredible body of work that evolved out of this prolific, transformative writer." Castillo Theater is located at 543 West 42nd St., New York. For more information and to purchase tickets visit NewFederalTheatre.

 
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