The Mountaintop
The Mountaintop is a play by American playwright Katori Hall. It is a fictional depiction of the Reverend Martin Luther King's last night on earth set entirely in Room 306 of the Lorraine Motel on the eve of his assassination on April 4, 1968.
Productions
The play premiered in London in 2009 to great critical acclaim. After a sell-out run at Theatre503, the play transferred to the Trafalgar Studios in the West End. The production was directed by James Dacre and featured British actors David Harewood and Lorraine Burroughs. Harewood was nominated for Best Actor in the Evening Standard[1] and Whatsonstage Awards and Burroughs for Best Actress in the Olivier Awards.[2] The production won the Olivier Best New Play Award [2] and was nominated for Whatsonstage Awards and Most Promising Playwright in the Evening Standard Awards.[1]
The Independent wrote that the production at Theatre 503 was "an imaginative portrayal" and shows "a relationship that is breathtaking, hilarious and heart-stopping in its exchanges and in its speedy ability to reveal character and pull the audience into the ring."[3] Theater critic Charles Spencer in The Daily Telegraph wrote of the production at Trafalgar Studios "It is a beautiful and startling piece, beginning naturalistically before shifting gear into something magical, spiritual and touching."[4]
The play premiered on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on September 22, 2011 with an official opening on October 13. Samuel L. Jackson made his Broadway debut in the role of the late Dr. Martin Luther King.[5] Angela Bassett is his co-star.
The play will make its regional premiere at Milwaukee Repertory Theater on September 26, 2012 directed by May Adrales.
The play will premiere in the Boston area at the Central Square Theater in Cambridge on January 10th and run through February 3rd, 2013. The play is presented by the Underground Railway Theater.
The Mountaintop will premiere in Houston, Texas at Alley Theatre on January 11, 2013, and run through February 3. It is a co-production between Alley Theatre and Arena Stage and will be directed by Robert O'Hara.
The Mountaintop will premiere in Memphis, Tennessee at The Circuit Playhouse on January 13, 2013 and run through February 10, 2013. A co-production between Playhouse on the Square and Hattiloo Theatre.
The Baltimore premiere of the play opened at Center Stage on January 16th, 2013, and will run until February 24th. [6]
The play will premiere in Philadelphia at Philadelphia Theatre Company on January 18, 2013 through February 10, 2013. It will be directed by Patricia McGregor.
References
- ^ a b Jury, Louise.The Standard Theatre Awards 2009: Longlist revealed" Evening Standard, 2 November 2009
- ^ a b "Olivier Winners 2010" olivierawards.com, accessed April 15, 2011
- ^ Christie, Nicola."'The Mountaintop', Theatre 503, London" The Independent, 16 June 2009
- ^ Spencer, Charles.The Mountaintop, at Trafalgar Studios - review" Telegraph, 31 July 2009
- ^ Gans, Andrew.Samuel L. Jackson Will Climb Broadway's Mountaintop Without Halle Barry" playbill.com, April 14, 2011
- ^ http://www.centerstage.org/2012-13Season/TheMountaintop.aspx