IRA ALDRIDGE "A 19TH CENTURY BLACK ACTOR"
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OFF BROADWAY PICKS
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| James Earl Jones |
Remembering Ira Aldridge, a 19th-Century Black Actor is a sure bet on New York's Broadway.
James Earl Jones was there, so was Mike Nichols who directed the play's star Adrian Lester in the film Primary Colors.
The play was originally staged at the Tricycle Theatre in Kilburn ,NW London in 2012 and re-staged there this year. Written by Lolita Chakrabarti and directed by the Tricycle's artistic director Indhu Rubasingham.
Anna Wintour is a big fan and has been encouraging all her friends to go see the show. Harvey Weinstein is also a big supporter of the play and sent his execs to see it in both London and Brooklyn.
The show Runs at St Ann's till April 20th. Be sure to get your tickets now!
ABOUT IRA ALDRIDGE
Ira Aldridge was a 19th century African-American actor who became a renowned interpreter of Shakespearean tragedy on the European stage.
Born on July 24, 1807, in New York City, Ira Aldridge acted with the African Grove Theatre before making his 1833 London debut as Othello. Other Shakespearean roles followed, and Aldridge became a renowned thespian, touring countries like Austria and Russia and earning the nickname "African Roscius." He also used his fame to call for slavery's end. He died on August 7, 1867, while in Poland.
Born on July 24, 1807, in New York City, Ira Frederick Aldridge was an African-American actor known for his stage work. He was the son of a straw vendor and lay preacher. Remarkably for the times, Aldridge received an education. He attended at the African Free School.
In the early 1820s, Aldridge began his acting career with the African Grove Theatre, also known as the African Theatre. Feeling that America wasn't a hospitable place for a black actor, however, he decided to seek his fortune elsewhere.
Emigrating to England, where he seemed to find more creative opportunities, Ira Aldridge had a starring role in Oroonoko in 1825, in London. This fine performance, however, failed to launch a career for him on the London stage. Aldridge ended up spending years touring the United Kingdom, playing the title role in such Shakespearean works as Othello, Macbeth and Richard III.
A well-regarded actor, Aldridge was called the "African Roscius" after the legendary Roman actor Quintus Roscius Gallus. He returned to London to play Othello in 1833, when he was only 26 years old, taking over the role for famed actor Edmund Kean. Returning to regional theater, Aldridge continued to perform Shakespeare's works. Some of his performances included samplings from several plays.
In 1852, Aldridge went on his first European tour. There, he earned great acclaim for his performances. Five years later, Aldridge took the stage in St. Petersburg, Russia, in a series of well-received shows. He spent little time in England, launching his last major tour of the United Kingdom in 1859.
Aldridge continued to perform until the end of his life. He died during an European tour on August 7, 1867, in Lodz, Poland. Aldridge had been twice married and left behind several children, including Luranah Aldridge, who later was a opera singer of some renown.
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