Alumni Work on ‘American Moor’ at Cherry Lane Theatre

By
Robbie Armstrong
October 15, 2019

Alumna Kim Wield ’07 directed Keith Hamilton Cobb’s American Moor at Cherry Lane Theatre. Cobb starred in the Red Bull Theatre award-winning production that presented audiences with the inside of an audition room where an African-American actor responds to the demands of a white director, presuming to better understand Shakespeare’s iconic black character, Othello.

In a show that the New York Times called “fascinating” this monologue style play makes connections from Shakespeare’s tragic character to current events. Fueled by humor and passion, American Moor paints a portrait of an American theater unaware of its failures, and of the culture that supports it.

Joining the production was Stage Management alumnus Christopher Maxwell ’19. Maxwell was an Assistant Stage Manager for the play’s Off Broadway transfer. The play had previous presentations at ArtsEmerson, The Anacostia Playhouse, Boston Center for the Arts, and Shakespeare’s Globe in London. American Moor garnered a number of accolades throughout its many presentations, including an AUDELCO Award for outstanding solo performance, many IRNE awards, and an Elliot Norton Award for outstanding solo performance.

The 90-minute, strictly limited engagement of American Moor began performances last August with an official opening in September. Performances concluded October 5, 2019.