Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (July 16, 2014) — The Mountaintop, Katori Hall’s powerful and provocative portrait of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the eve of his assassination on April 4, 1968 begins previews today in The Shaw’s Studio Theatre. Presented in 2013 as part of The Shaw’s Reading Series, this season’s full production of The Mountaintop is directed by Philip Akin and features Kevin Hanchard as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Alana Hibbert as Camae.
Designer Judith Bowden, lighting designer Kevin Lamotte and projections by Andrew Smith recreate room 306 at the Lorraine Motel that is rooted in King’s reality, but also transforms as the conversation does between King and a young hotel maid.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Kevin Hanchard) settles into Room 306 at the Lorraine Motel. He is exhausted, having just delivered his powerful “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech. When room service arrives, he meets Camae (Alana Hibbert), a young hotel maid of ethereal beauty and mystery. Through their intimate and ultimately transformative conversation, King – the leader and the man – reveals his hopes and fears as he confronts his destiny and legacy.
Described as “wondrous, hilarious, and heartbreaking” by critics, The Mountaintop won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play. It premiered at Theatre 503, London in June 2009 and transferred to the Trafalgar Studios in the West End. It premiered on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre in 2011 with Samuel L. Jackson (who made his Broadway debut in the production) and Angela Bassett. It had its Canadian premiere at Theatre Calgary earlier this year.
About The Mountaintop
July 16 – September 7; Opening: July 26
The Mountaintop will be on stage at the Studio Theatre (10 Queen’s Parade, Niagara-on-the-Lake).
The Mountaintop is sponsored by Paradigm Capital Inc.
Presented in collaboration with Obsidian Theatre Company.
Presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.
The Shaw Festival’s 2014 season began April 4 runs until October 26 and features 10 productions presented on the Festival’s four Niagara-on-the-Lake stages. For more information on our 2014 season, performance schedule and ticket information, please visit www.shawfest.com or call 1-800-511-SHAW.
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Illustration: Lorraine Motel. ©2014 Emily Cooper.
2014-07-16
Niagara-on-the-Lake: Katori Hall's "The Mountaintop" about Dr. Martin Luther King runs July 16-September 7