The African Company presents Richard III

It’s 1821 in New York, and two productions of Shakespeare’s “Richard III” are vying for audiences. One is presented by the African Company of New York, a downtown theater known for its growing popularity with both Black and white audiences. A white theater owner is threatened by the success of his competition and will stop at nothing to shut them down. Learn what happens in this true story straight from American theater history.

Forty years before Lincoln ended slavery and 50 years before Black Americans earned the right to vote, the African Company of New York—the first Black theatrical group in the country—presented plays in a downtown Manhattan theater, where Black and white audiences flocked. The drama of this progressive group extended beyond the stage. Shakespeare is the cultural battleground in this inventive retelling of a little-known yet pivotal event in the company’s history.

Earning their bread with political satires of white high society, the African Company became known for debunking the sacred status of the English classics, which many politically and racially motivated critics said were beyond the scope of Black actors. Within the company, debates raged over whether to mimic the English tongue or offer a livelier interpretation of white theater by acknowledging the vibrancy of the Black experience. Facing prejudice from white society and internal shakeups, the African Company battles for time, space, audiences, and togetherness in this ensemble drama.

Student tickets are available for $12. Call the Box Office for information and booking: (518) 346-6204.