Posted by | Ray Cornelius
Gwinnett’s Aurora Theatre is kicking off 2017 with Katori Hall‘s Broadway play, “The Mountaintop,” beginning January 12- February 12.
After delivering his memorable I’ve Been to the Mountaintop speech, civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. retires to his room at the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis and orders a cup of coffee. When Camae, the mysterious maid with a much greater mission in mind arrives, THE MOUNTAINTOP re-imagines Dr. King’s last night on earth. This magical encounter filled with humor and history informs his destiny and legacy.
“The Mountaintop” features Atlanta stage and television actors Neal Ghant as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Cynthia D. Barker as Camae. The play premiered in 2009 at London’s Theatre503 with British actors David Harewood and Lorraine Burroughs. It later premiered on Broadway in 2011 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre with Samuel L. Jackson in his Broadway debut as Dr. King along with beloved film and TV actress Angela Bassett.
I had the opportunity to chat with the show’s director, Eric J. Little, about the importance of this show right now in American history. He most recently directed Theatrical Outfit’s “Thurgood,” the one-man show about iconic Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall.
“The Mountaintop is more than a historical examination. It is about change, truth, and legacy. Yes, it is a reimagining of the last night of Dr. King’s life and the playwright, Katori Hall, uses this night to convey great messages of change, truth and legacy. By exploring King’s truth and legacy it allows the audience to exam their own truth and legacy. Ironically, when this play opens on January 12th, President Obama will still be office and when it closes on February 12th, President-Elect Trump will be office. America will be going through a huge change that makes everyone exam themselves. How have we been treating each other? When we continue to treat each other the same way?”
Check out more exclusive behind-the-scenes photos of Little and his cast in action:
Click here for tickets to see “The Mountaintop”
Photo Credits: RayCornelius.com