Tuesday, January 19, 2010

The Greatest: On Stage in New Jersey

While procrastinating at work today, I came across an interesting New York Times article about a World Premiere production of a play called "Fetch Clay, Make Man" at the McCarter Theater in Princeton, NJ.  According to the director of the McCarter Theater, Emily Mann, the play is about "about the surprising (but true) friendship between champion boxer Muhammad Ali and vilified former Hollywood actor Stepin Fetchit.  It [examines] identity, manhood and the public image of two exceedingly different men."  In this production, Fetchit is played by icon, Ben Vereen.

This weekend was Ali's 68th birthday.  I sure hope someone at ATL or some other local theater is keeping an eye on this production.  The NYT review is good but not glowing.  It would be fabulous to stage this production in Ali's hometown-- maybe even in his own theater?  Just a thought.

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