Red Velvet (play)
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Red Velvet is a 2012 play by Lolita Chakrabarti, dealing with the biography of the 19th century actor Ira Aldridge and his taking the role of Othello. It premiered at the Tricycle Theatre, London (directed by its new artistic director Indhu Rubasingham) from 11 October to 24 November 2012, with Aldridge played by Adrian Lester.{{Cite web|date=2012-12-29|title=Red Velvet {{!}} Tricycle|url=http://www.tricycle.co.uk:80/home/about-the-tricycle-pages/about-us-tab-menu/archive/archived-theatre-production/red-velvet|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121229024312/http://www.tricycle.co.uk:80/home/about-the-tricycle-pages/about-us-tab-menu/archive/archived-theatre-production/red-velvet|archive-date=29 December 2012|access-date=2022-02-19|website=Tricycle}}{{Cite web|last=Billington|first=Michael|date=17 October 2012|title=Red Velvet – review|url=http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2012/oct/17/red-velvet-review|access-date=2022-02-19|website=the Guardian|language=en}} Lester revived his role when the Tricycle Theatre Production collaborated with Kenneth Branagh Company’s season at the West End's Garrick theatre in 2016.{{Cite web|last=Billington|first=Michael|date=2 February 2016|title=Red Velvet review – Adrian Lester gives us fire, fury and grandeur|url=http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/feb/02/red-velvet-review-adrian-lester-lolita-chakrabarti-garrick-theatre|access-date=2022-02-19|website=the Guardian|language=en}} It has since been produced by several theatres in the United States{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/01/theater/red-velvet-recalls-one-shocked-london-audience.html |title='Red Velvet' Recalls One Shocked London Audience |last=Brantley |first=Ben |date=2014-04-01 |work=The New York Times |access-date=2018-02-27 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/reviews/ct-ent-red-velvet-review-1212-story.html |title='Red Velvet' tells the story of Ira Aldridge, who both suffered and triumphed |last=Jones |first=Chris |work=chicagotribune.com |access-date=2018-02-27 |language=en-US}} and Canada.{{Cite web|title=Red Velvet|url=https://www.crowstheatre.com/whats-on/view-all/redvelvet|access-date=2022-12-05|website=Crowstheatre|language=en}}
Other productions
- St. Ann’s Warehouse Theater, Brooklyn Bridge Park, New York City, April 2014
- Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, MA from August 6 through September 13, 2015,{{Cite web|title = Red Velvet - Shakespeare & Company|url = http://www.shakespeare.org/performances/all-performances/red-velvet/|access-date = 2015-08-21}} with Aldridge played by John Douglas Thompson.
- The Junction Theatre in Los Angeles, CA from March 26 through April 30, 2016,{{Cite web|title = Red Velvet - The Junction Theatre|url = http://www.thejunctiontheatre.org/#!current-production/cb3i/|access-date = 2016-06-01}} with Aldridge played by Paul Outlaw{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-red-velvet-play-review-20160408-story.html|title = Review: Black actor cast in a traditionally white role? 'Red Velvet' explores what happens next|website = Los Angeles Times|date = 8 April 2016}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.laweekly.com/arts/when-a-183-year-old-racial-casting-controversy-feels-eerily-current-6765422|title = When a 183-Year-Old Racial Casting Controversy Feels Eerily Current|date = 29 March 2016}}
- San Francisco Playhouse in San Francisco, CA from May 10 through June 25, 2016,{{Cite web|title = Red Velvet - San Francisco Playhouse|url = http://sfplayhouse.org/sfph/2015-2016-season/red-velvet/|access-date = 2016-05-13}} with Aldridge played by Carl Lumbly.
- San Jose Youth Shakespeare at The Historic Hoover Theatre in San Jose, CA from August 12 through August 14, 2016,{{Cite web|title = Red Velvet - San Jose Youth Shakespeare|url = http://www.youthshakes.org/plays/redvelvet.htm |access-date = 2016-07-07}} with Aldridge played by Nathan Sandoval. Directed by Bob Rumsby.
- Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey in Madison, NJ from September 7 through September 25, 2016,{{Cite web|url=http://www.shakespearenj.org/OnStage/2016/Red_Velvet/Red_Velvet_info.html|title=The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey|website=www.shakespearenj.org|access-date=2016-10-01}} with Aldridge played by Lindsay Smiling.
- Raven Theatre in Chicago, Il from September 28 through November 27, 2016,{{cite web|title=Red Velvet|url=http://www.raventheatre.com/red-velvet|website=raventheatre.com|publisher=Raven Theatre|access-date=October 4, 2016}} with Aldridge played by Brandon Greenhouse.
- Old Globe Theater in San Diego, Ca from March 25 through April 30, 2017, with Aldridge played by Albert Jones. Directed by Jenn Rapp.
- Lantern Theatre in Philadelphia, Pa from September 7 through October 8, 2017, with Aldridge played by Forrest McClendon
- Chicago Shakespeare Theater from December 1, 2017, through January 21, 2018, with Aldridge played by Dion Johnstone.{{Cite news |url=https://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2017/12/11/new-play-looks-life-trailblazing-african-american-actor |title=New Play Looks at Life of Trailblazing African-American Actor |last=Vitali |first=Marc |date=December 11, 2017 |work=Chicago Tonight - WTTW |access-date=2018-02-27 |language=en}}
- Chesapeake Shakespeare Company in Baltimore, Maryland, from February 2 through February 25, 2018, with Aldridge played by Christian R. Gibbs. Directed by Shirley Basfield Dunlap.
- Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio, from March 6 through March 31, 2018, with Aldridge played by Ken Early.
- OWI (Office of War) Bureau of Theatre Boston, MA {{cite web |url=http://www.officeofwarinformation.com/ |title=Home |website=officeofwarinformation.com}} from May 30 to June 16, 2018, with Aldridge played by Seth Hill.
- Jewel Theatre in Santa Cruz, CA from January 23 through February 17, 2019,{{Cite web|title = Red Velvet - Jewel Theater|url=https://www.jeweltheatre.net/red-velvet/|website=jeweltheatre.net|date=12 July 2018 |publisher=Jewel Theatre}} with Aldridge played by Aldo Billingslea. Directed by Bob Rumsby.
- Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, CT from February 28 through March 7, 2020, with Aldridge played by Gary Robinson Jr. and Malcolm Davis
- Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, DC from June 16th through July 17th, 2022, {{Cite web|title = Meet RED VELVET director Jade King Carroll|url=https://www.shakespearetheatre.org/watch-listen/meet-red-velvet-director-jade-king-carroll/|website=shakespearetheatre.org|date=15 June 2022 |publisher=Shakespeare Theatre Company}} with Aldridge played by Amari Cheatom. Directed by Jade King Carroll.
- Burbage Theatre Company in Pawtucket, RI from June 1st through June 18th, 2023, {{Cite web |title=RED VELVET by Lolita Chakrabarti {{!}} Burbage Theatre Co |url=https://www.burbagetheatre.org/redvelvet |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=Burbage Theatre Comp |language=en}} with Aldridge played by Ja'Quan Malik Jones. Directed by Jackie Davis.
- Bag&Baggage Productions in Hillsboro, OR from July 21st through August 6th, 2023, {{Cite web |date=2023-07-25 |title=Bag&Baggage Productions Explores the Life of a Black Actor in a Slave-Owning Society |url=https://www.wweek.com/arts/theater/2023/07/25/bagbaggage-productions-explores-the-life-of-a-black-actor-in-a-slave-owning-society/ |access-date=2023-08-10 |website=Willamette Week |language=en}} with Aldridge played by Eric Zulu. Directed by Nik Whitcomb.
- Crescent Theatre Company{{cite web | url=https://www.crescent-theatre.co.uk/event-details/228731AJRNDPDCKNGRGVCBPHQRKLPQGMV/red-velvet/ | title=Event Details }} in Birmingham UK, July 2024, with Hugh Blackwood as the older and Papa Yentumi as the younger Ira Aldridge. Director: Alan K. Marshall {{cite web | url=https://bromsgrovestandard.co.uk/lifestyle/review-red-velvet-at-birminghams-crescent-theatre-is-unique-and-beautiful-50792/ | title=REVIEW – Red Velvet at Birmingham's Crescent Theatre is 'unique and beautiful' }}
References
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{{Othello}}
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Category:Plays based on actual events
Category:Plays and musicals based on Othello
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