''Thurgood'' is a

one-man play A solo performance, sometimes referred to as a one-man show or one-woman show, features a single person telling a story for an audience, typically for the purpose of entertainment. This type of performance comes in many varieties, including auto ...

about the life of

Thurgood Marshall Thurgood Marshall (July 2, 1908 – January 24, 1993) was an American civil rights lawyer and jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1967 until 1991. He was the Supreme Court's first African-A ...

. It was written by George Stevens, Jr. The show premiered in 2006 at the

Westport Country Playhouse Westport Country Playhouse, is a not-for-profit regional theater in Westport, Connecticut, Westport, Connecticut. It was founded in 1931 by Lawrence Langner, a New York theater producer. Langner remodeled an 1830s tannery with a Broadway-quality ...

, starring

James Earl Jones James Earl Jones (born January 17, 1931) is an American actor. He has been described as "one of America's most distinguished and versatile" actors for his performances in film, television, and theater, and "one of the greatest actors in America ...

and directed by Leonard Foglia.Frank Rizzo
"Review: Thurgdood"
''Variety'', May 14, 2006 The production featured Scenic Design by

Allen Moyer Allen Moyer (born 1958) is an American set designer particularly known for his work in operas and Broadway musicals. Moyer grew up in Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania. After two years at Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania, he transferred ...

, Costume Design by

Jane Greenwood Jane Greenwood (born 30 April 1934) is a British costume designer for the stage, television, film, opera, and dance. Born in Liverpool, England, she works both in England and the United States. She has been nominated for the Tony Award for costu ...

, Lighting Design by Brian Nason, Sound Design by Ryan Rumery and Projection Design by

Elaine J. McCarthy Elaine J. McCarthy (born May 11, 1966) is an American projection and video designer for theater and opera.David Johnson"The Next Generation of Projection Design" ''Live Design'', May 1, 2003 Early life She was born in Woburn, Massachusetts, an ...

.Frank Rizzo
"Review: Thurgdood"
''Variety'', May 14, 2006 The play started on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

at the

Booth Theatre The Booth Theatre is a Broadway theater at 222 West 45th Street ( George Abbott Way) in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1913, the theater was designed by Henry Beaumont Herts in the Italian Renaissance ...

on April 30, 2008, starring

Laurence Fishburne Laurence John Fishburne III (born July 30, 1961) is an American actor. He is a three time Emmy Award and Tony Award winning actor known for his roles on stage and screen. He has been hailed for his forceful, militant, and authoritative charact ...

. On February 24, 2011, HBO screened a filmed version of the play which Fishburne had performed at the

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (formally known as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, and commonly referred to as the Kennedy Center) is the United States National Cultural Center, located on the Potom ...

. The production was described by the Baltimore Sun as "one of the most frank, informed and searing discussions of race you will ever see on TV." On February 16, 2011, a screening of the film was hosted by the

White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in ...

as part of its celebrations of

Black History Month Black History Month is an annual observance originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month. It has received official recognition from governments in the United States and Canada, and more recently ...

Notes

References

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External links

The Booth Theatre's production of ''Thurgood''
Plays for one performer Monodrama Broadway plays 2007 plays Biographical plays Cultural depictions of judges Plays set in the 1960s Plays set in the United States Plays about race and ethnicity Articles containing video clips Thurgood Marshall {{2000s-play-stub