UPDATE: Black Actor Justin Fraley Says He Was Replaced By White Actor as MLK For Full Run Of Kent State's THE MOUNTAINTOP

BroadwayWorld reported on October 29th of a controversial production of Katori Hall's THE MOUNTAINTOP, which opened on September 25th at Ohio's Kent State University, produced by the school's African Community Theatre.

THE MOUNTAINTOP is a two-person drama set in room 306 of Memphis, Tennessee's Lorraine Motel on the eve of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination on April 4th, 1968. The play involves a fictitious encounter Dr. King has with one of the motel's maids.

At that time it was confirmed by the production's director, Michael Oatman, who is black, that at three of the production's six performances, the role of Dr. King was played by Robert Branch, who is white. Justin Fraley, who is black, was listed on the production's web site as "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. #2." The role of the maid Camae, was played by Cristal Christian, who is black, for the full run.

As reported previously by BroadwayWorld, on November 9th Hall posted her reaction on The Root, calling the casting of a white actor in the role "a self-serving and disrespectful directing exercise for a paying audience," not accepting Oatman's explanation that he wanted to "explore the issue of racial ownership and authenticity."

In reaction to that article in The Root, Fraley posts on his Facebook page that he did not share the role with Branch, but that 'the directed decided to 'shake things up' by casting a Caucasian man to play MLK."

The comments beneath the post included an exchange between Fraley and Hall where he quotes Oatman as saying, "I think I wanna shake things up a bit and have a white cat play the role instead."

Language has been added to the play's licensing agreement to ensure that the roles are played by "actors who are African-American or Black," with any casting choice requires the author's approval.

In addition to THE MOUNTAINTOP, Katori Hall's plays include HURT VILLAGE (2011 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize), CHILDREN OF KILLERS, HOODOO LOVE, REMEMBRANCE, SATURDAY NIGHT/SUNDAY MORNING, WHADDABLOODCLOT!!!, OUR LADY OF KIBEHO, PUSSY VALLEY and THE BLOOT QUILT. Her plays have been presented on six continents and she is currently under commission to write a new play for the UK's National Theatre.

Photo of Katori Hall courtesy of O&M Co.