From 1776 to Evita
to Hamilton, historical figures have
inspired many theatrical works over the years. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is
no exception. In addition to many depictions on television and film, play wrights
and composers have attempted to give us additional insight into this
influential leader. The following list of stage works featuring Dr. King is not
at all comprehensive, so please comment on the post if you have additional titles to add!
The
Mountaintop
This fictional play imagines the final night of Dr.
King’s life. It premiered in London in 2009 and opened on Broadway in 2011
starring Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett. The Omaha Community
Playhouse production goes on sale March 27and will run May 4-27,
2018.
I
Dream
This “rhythm and blues opera” by librettist, lyricist and
composer Douglas Tappin premiered at the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta,
Georgia in 2010. A full concept recording is available on iTunes and
Spotify.
I
Have a Dream
This production originated on Broadway in
1976 and starred Billy Dee Williams as Dr. King. Subsequent iterations have
expanded the inclusion of music.
Selma:
A Musical Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Originally written in 1978 by Tommy Butler, this show’s
complete cast recording is also available on iTunes and
Spotify. One
of the show’s tracks, “Prison
Song”
was recently sampled by rapper Future in his 2017 song “Mask Off.”
Skin
Deep: The story of Martin Luther King
This 30
minute play was originally produced in 1985 by a church
in Ontario. The simple script is approachable for school groups and
organizations who aren’t looking for a lengthy, full-scale production.
