Kings Theater to Present MICHAEL K. WILLIAMS: A NIGHT OF CELEBRATION

Kings Theatre will host Michael K. Williams: A NIGHT OF CELEBRATION on Tuesday, September 27 at 7PM. The event will honor the life and work of the beloved late actor/activist and mark the release of his memoir, SCENES FROM MY LIFE, published by Crown/Random House and written by Michael K. Williams and Jon Sternfeld.

The multi-media event will feature discussions and readings by friends and industry peers including The Wire creator, executive producer, and head writer David Simon; The Wire co-star Felicia "Snoop" Pearson; director, writer, and producer Greg Cally; New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams; NPR TV critic Eric Deggans, and more to be announced.

Each ticket for Michael K. Williams: A NIGHT OF CELEBRATION includes a copy of the book SCENES FROM MY LIFE, distributed by GREENLIGHT BOOKSTORE at Kings Theatre on the evening of the event. All tickets are $45 and will be available for purchase Tuesday, August 23 at 12pm ET. For additional information, please visit www.kingstheatre.com.

A portion of ticket sales will go to benefit WE BUILD THE BLOCK, an organization Michael K. Williams helped found with the mission to create community-led solutions to reduce violence and increase public safety. More info on WE BUILD THE BLOCK is available at www.webuildtheblock.org

The New York Times recently profiled Michael K. Williams and the legacy he left behind, which can be read in full here: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/19/nyregion/michael-k-williams-brooklyn.html.

More about SCENES FROM MY LIFE

Michael K. Williams (known fondly as "Mike") was a son of Brooklyn, a place that made him and a place that he never left. Even after developing a career as one of the most extraordinary character actors of his generation, Mike stayed committed to his community and dedicated his last years to giving back and working to help so many people who grew up like him understand that there was more than one way to thrive. 

In SCENES FROM MY LIFE (written by Michael K. Williams and Jon Sternfeld), Michael traces his life from a rough childhood in East Flatbush through his battles with addiction and his early years as a dancer to the bar fight that left his face with that distinguishing scar.

Mike is also clear-eyed about how much of himself he brought to his unforgettable roles and how much they affected him. Of his star turn as Omar on The Wire he says, "Omar became a superhero costume I wore to hide from myself. I put it on, made it my own, and then let it overtake my life." And with the Emmy-nominated role of prison leader Freddy Knight in The Night Of, he acknowledges, "The character stirred up so many issues for me that before the shoot ended, after around five years sober, I would cave in on myself." 

SCENES FROM MY LIFE is a raw and honest  account of the place  Mike came from, the places he went, and how he came back to give back. Publishing one year after Mike's untimely death, it is a fitting tribute to one of the finest actors of our time.

About Kings Theatre

The historic Kings Theatre reopened in 2015 as one of New York's premier performing arts venues. Providing a destination for large-scale popular entertainment and serving as a resource for local arts groups and community organizations, Kings is a cultural and economic cornerstone of the Flatbush community and a major fixture to Brooklyn's vibrant cultural landscape. The classic 20th-century movie palace was inspired by the French Renaissance Revival style of the Palace of Versailles and the Paris Opera House. With over 3,000 seats-the largest of its kind in Brooklyn, the restoration revived the historic structure's original splendor and transformed the theatre into a state-of-the-art facility. Kings Theatre is operated by Ambassador Theatre Group. Learn more at www.kingstheatre.com.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride

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