John Douglas Thompson will once again play the title role in Eugene O'Neill's The Emperor Jones when the Irish Repertory production transfers to the Soho Playhouse, beginning performances on December 15 in anticipation of a December 22 opening. Ciaran O'Reilly has directed the production.

O'Neill's 1920 play focuses on an African-American man who sets himself up as emperor on a Caribbean island after fleeing the United States following a prison escape. In addition to Thompson, the original company members Michael Akil Davis, Jon Deliz, Sameerah Harris, David Heron, and Sinclair Mitchell will appear in the production at the Soho Playhouse. Additional casting will be announced at a later date.

The creative team includes Charles Corcoran (scenic design), Antonia Ford-Roberts (costume design), Brian Nason (lighting design), Ryan Rumery and Christian Fredrickson (original music and sound design), and Bob Flanagan (puppet design).

The Emperor Jones opened at the Irish Rep on October 18 and continues there through December 6. Click here to read the TheaterMania review of the production.

For further information, visit www.irishrep.org.