American Stage's 'Dutchman' provokes powerful discussion of race relations
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American Stage's "Dutchman," written by legendary playwright Amiri Baraka, provokes powerful discussion of race relations in America. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Petersburg's American Stage is a theater company that's unafraid to provoke deep conversation and debate.
And its latest production, a modern staging of Amiri Baraka's 1964 powderkeg "Dutchman," written during the height of the Civil Rights movement, packs a true emotional wallop. Starring Adebowale Adebiyi and Shannon Mary Keegan as combative riders on an NYC subway car — clever staging that also morphs into a ghostly slave ship — the material explodes in a jarring finale. This is race relations "on steroids," said Shannon. "American Stage has a very interesting audience that benefits greatly from this kind of discussion. " "I hope all audiences — of all ages, races — can see both sides, so we understand why [Amiri Baraka] wrote the play and why it's still important in 2022," said Adebowale.
For ticket information and more for "Dutchman," click here. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.