Crossroads Theatre Company to open season with ‘Paul Robeson’

by JAY LUSTIG
Crossroads Robeson

From left, New Brunswick mayor Jim Cahill, actor Nathaniel Stampley, Crossroads artistic director Marshall Jones and Crossroads board president Anthony Carter at an event announcing the company’s upcoming season.

“Paul Robeson” — a play about the athlete, scholar, activist and actor, who graduated from Rutgers 100 years ago, in 1919 — will be the first play of the upcoming season of the Crossroads Theatre Company, as well as Crossroads’ first play in its new home: The new New Brunswick Performing Arts Center. Nathaniel Stampley — whose Broadway credits include “The Color Purple,” “The Lion King,” “Cats” and “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess” — will play the title role.

Written by Phillip Hayes Dean, “Paul Robeson” will begin previews on Sept. 5, officially open on Sept. 7, and run through Sept. 15.

The rest of Crossroads’ 2019-20 season will include:

• “A Christmas Carol,” Dec. 5-15. A musical version of the famous Dickens story, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and book by Ahrens and Ockrent. Count Stovall will star, as Scrooge.

• Genesis Festival of Plays, February. Featuring staged readings of new plays and also spotlighting the work of Chisa Hutchinson.

• “Freedom Rider,” April 9-19. A new play — conceived and directed by Crossroads co-founder Ricardo Khan, and written by Khan, Kathleen McGhee-Anderson, Murray Horwitz, Nathan Louis Jackson and Nikkole Salter — about four Civil Rights activists in the ’60s.

For information, visit crossroadstheatrecompany.org.

We need your help!

CONTRIBUTE TO NJARTS.NET

Since launching in September 2014, NJArts.net, a 501(c)(3) organization, has become one of the most important media outlets for the Garden State arts scene. And it has always offered its content without a subscription fee, or a paywall. Its continued existence depends on support from members of that scene, and the state’s arts lovers. Please consider making a contribution of any amount to NJArts.net via PayPal, or by sending a check made out to NJArts.net to 11 Skytop Terrace, Montclair, NJ 07043.

$

Custom Amount

Personal Info

Donation Total: $20.00

Explore more articles:

Leave a Comment

Sign up for our Newsletter