Akkinagbe, Charles, McDaniel Set for The Flea’s Lower Ninth

Gbenga Akkinagbe, Gaius Charles, and James McDaniel will star in The Flea Theater world premiere of Beau Willimon’s Lower Ninth, a new play inspired by the effects of Hurricane Katrina, to run February 14-April 15. The production, which will open officially on February 28, will be directed by Daniel Goldstein.

The play, which was first presented at the Summer Play Festival, concerns two men stranded on a roof after a terrible storm, who must battle heat, hunger and their pasts as they struggle to survive. Willimon’s other plays include Farragut North, which is expected to come to Broadway next season. Goldstein’s credits include Indoor/Outdoor and the upcoming Broadway revival of Godspell.

Akkinagbe can currently be seen in the film The Savages and HBO’s The Wire. Charles plays the role of Brian “Smash” Williams on the NBC drama Friday Night Lights. McDaniel’s stage credits include A Soldier’s Play and Six Degrees of Separation; he is best known for his work as Lt. Arthur Fancy on ABC’s NYPD Blue.