About This Show
In November 2005, African Continuum develops new work with the world premiere presentation of two plays from its Fresh Flavas reading series: Draft Day by Marvin McAllister and Kingdom by Helen Hayes award winning actor, David Emerson Toney. Toney received the Best Supporting Actor award for his performance in African Continuum’s 2004 production of August Wilson’s Two Trains Running.
Draft Day is a dark fantasy dissecting the ambitions of two young basketball players on the verge of rocketing into the professional leagues. The action moves between the 21st Century players’ ego-driven braggadocio and 19th Century slave traders assessments of humans as commodities. The play uses hilarious hip hop flavored satire and well researched historical information to pose provocative comparisons of professional sports and slavery. Kingdom is a gritty, funny, inner city meditation on Shakespeare’s Richard III. Set in above a barbeque joint in Cleveland, three brothers maneuver to control their family legacy. The two plays perform in repertory, and are directed by Artistic Director Jennifer L. Nelson.
The productions are offered on alternating evenings at 8 p.m. with a 2 p.m. matinee on designated Saturday and Sunday afternoons.