Thoughts of a Colored Man

Thoughts of a Colored Man is a play written by Keenan Scott II that opened on Broadway on October 13, 2021. It is Scott's Broadway debut,{{Cite news |last=Grode |first=Eric |date=2021-10-21 |title='Thoughts of a Colored Man,' From University to Broadway |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/21/theater/thoughts-of-a-colored-man-keenan-scott.html |access-date=2021-12-13 |issn=0362-4331}} and the play is the first Broadway show that was written and directed by Black men (Steve Broadnax III){{Cite news |date=2021-11-24 |title=Theatre professor directs 'Thoughts of a Colored Man' on Broadway |publisher= Pennsylvania State University |language=en |url=https://www.psu.edu/news/arts-and-entertainment/story/theatre-professor-directs-thoughts-colored-man-broadway/ |access-date=2021-12-13}} with a Black man in the lead role and lead produced by all Black artists.{{Cite web |title=Critically acclaimed Broadway show returns in Brooklyn |url=https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2025/02/10/theater--black-history-month--brooklyn |last=Clark |first=Roger |website=Spectrum News NY1 |publisher=Charter Communications |date=February 11, 2025 |access-date=February 22, 2025}} It was slated to be one of seven plays by Black playwrights during the Fall 2021 season.{{Cite news |last=Paulson |first=Michael |date=2021-09-16 |title=Broadway Is Brimming With Black Playwrights. But for How Long? |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/16/theater/broadway-black-playwrights.html |access-date=2021-12-13 |issn=0362-4331}} The show uses slam poetry, prose and songs to tell the story of Black life in America through the stories of seven multi generational men living in the same Brooklyn neighborhood.{{Cite news |last=Oladipo |first=Gloria |date=2021-10-18 |title=Thoughts of a Colored Man review – Black Brooklyn life explored on Broadway |language=en |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2021/oct/18/thoughts-of-a-colored-man-broadway-stage-review |access-date=2021-12-13}}{{Cite news |last=Young |first=Robin |date=2021-10-18 |title=Broadway's 'Thoughts of A Colored Man' explores diversity, power, of Black {{as written|mens' [sic]}} voices |language=en |url=https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2021/10/18/thoughts-of-a-colored-man |access-date=2021-12-13}}{{Cite news |last=Phillips |first=Maya |date=2021-10-13 |title=Review: 'Thoughts of a Colored Man' Preaches to the Choir |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/13/theater/thoughts-of-a-colored-man-review.html |access-date=2021-12-13 |issn=0362-4331}}

The show ran at the Golden Theatre until December 22, 2021, when it was forced to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic, even though the playwright stepped in to cover one performance.{{Cite news |last=McPhee |first=Ryan |date=2021-12-22 |title=When Thoughts of a Colored Man Almost Canceled Broadway Performance, Playwright Keenan Scott II Saved the Day |language=en |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/when-thoughts-of-a-colored-man-almost-canceled-broadway-performance-playwright-keenan-scott-ii-saved-the-day |access-date=2021-12-27}}{{Cite news |last=Huston |first=Caitlin |date=2021-12-24 |title='Thoughts of a Colored Man' closes on Broadway |language=en-US |url=https://broadwaynews.com/2021/12/23/thoughts-of-a-colored-man-closes-on-broadway/ |access-date=2021-12-27}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/waitress-thoughts-of-a-colored-man-close-broadway-covid-surge-1235067283/|title='Waitress' and 'Thoughts of a Colored Man' Close on Broadway Amid COVID Surge|first=Abbey|last=White|website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=December 24, 2021}} It was originally slated to end March 2022.{{Cite news |last=Huston |first=Caitlin |date=2021-12-01 |title='Thoughts of a Colored Man' to be filmed by Theatre on Film and Tape Archive |language=en-US |work=Broadway News |url=https://broadwaynews.com/2021/12/01/thoughts-of-a-colored-man-to-be-recorded-by-theatre-on-film-and-tape-archive/ |access-date=2021-12-13}}

Scott began working on what is now Thoughts of a Colored Man fifteen years earlier when he was a Frostburg State University student.{{Cite news |last=White |first=Abbey |date=2021-12-08 |title=Broadway's Black Playwrights on Legacy Theater and Their Vision for an Inclusive Industry |language=en-US |work=Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/broadway-black-playwrights-legacy-theater-diversity-inclusion-1235058866/ |access-date=2021-12-13}} Prior to its Broadway engagement, the show had an out-of-town tryout at Syracuse Stage and Baltimore Center Stage. A December performance of the show was recorded for preservation in the New York Public Library Theatre on Film and Tape Archive.