In 1944, a black Sergeant is murdered on a Louisiana Army base, and one tenacious investigator must race against his white leadership to unravel the crime before they unravel him. A hair-raising drama that painfully still reverberates today, the mystery of Charles Fuller's Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece has finally arrived on Broadway for the first time, directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon.
With three-time Tony nominee David Alan Grier and a commanding Blair Underwood leading a first-rate, 12-member cast, this Soldier's Play (adapted as A Soldier's Story for the 1984 film) moves with all the precision of a military cadence. The production is not without its missteps - a few self-conscious moments seem like gratuitous elbow jabs to make sure we understand the contemporary relevance - but director Kenny Leon drives the narrative with a solid feel for momentum.
Kenny Leon deserves much credit enhancing the play's message through directorial flourishes. He adds historical allusions to the African American experience throughout, beginning with a stirring call-and-response from the soldiers in a darkened barracks suggesting the early roots of African music. And later we see the troops marching in a thrilling sequence, combining military cadence with stylized movements. It all comes together quite powerfully, evoking the emotional wounds borne by a lifetime of soul-crushing hate. After some 40 years, 'A Soldier's Play' still hits home, summoning a world at war with itself.
1981 | Off-Broadway |
Off-Broadway |
2005 | Off-Broadway |
Off-Broadway |
2020 | Broadway |
Roundabout Theatre Company's Original Broadway Production Broadway |
2022 | US Tour |
North American Tour US Tour |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play | David Alan Grier |
2020 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Fight Choreography | Thomas Schall |
2020 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Play | A Soldier's Play |
2020 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | David Alan Grier |
2020 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Blair Underwood |
2020 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Play | A Soldier’s Play |
2020 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Director of a Play | Kenny Leon |
2020 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play | David Alan Grier |
2020 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Play | A Soldier's Play |
2020 | Tony Awards | Best Costume Design of a Play | Dede Ayite |
2020 | Tony Awards | Best Direction of a Play | Kenny Leon |
2020 | Tony Awards | Best Lighting Design of a Play | Allen Lee Hughes |
2020 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play | David Alan Grier |
2020 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play | Blair Underwood |
2020 | Tony Awards | Best Revival of a Play | Charles Fuller |
2020 | Tony Awards | Best Scenic Design of a Play | Derek McLane |
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