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Actor and Producer Malik Yoba and Playwright David Heron celebrate another successful staged reading production
BY SIMONE J. SMITH
Theater arts have taken on a new face in the African Caribbean community, and Black producers have continued to revolutionize and bring diverse perspectives to the creative process. This diversity enriches storytelling, bringing forth a range of experiences, voices, and themes that resonate with a broader audience. We are fortunate to be the generation that is witnessing Black-produced Broadway productions that are wielding significant influence by promoting: diversity, empowering communities, challenging stereotypes, and contributing to the cultural and artistic richness of Broadway and beyond.
The production we would like to present to our readers this edition is one that some of you might be familiar with; it is a controversial legal drama which tells the story of a young Jamaican computer salesman who accuses his female boss of sexual assault, resulting in an explosive courtroom trial that essentially divides the island nation. “Against His Will” had its World Premiere in Jamaica over twenty years ago. The original Jamaican production earned five Actor Boy Awards – the Jamaican equivalent of Broadway’s Tony – including Best Production, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Drama and Best New Jamaican Play.
Let’s fast forward to 2023; Actor and Producer Malik Yoba and Playwright David Heron celebrated another successful staged reading production of David Heron’s award-winning courtroom drama “Against His Will,” performed at City Center Stage II in New York’s Manhattan theater district on Monday, November 13th, 2023. A large and enthusiastic audience, including Broadway and Off Broadway producers, theater industry personnel, and members of the Caribbean cultural and business communities showed their appreciation and support of David’s work. The staged reading was produced by: Malik Yoba, Consulting Producer Janel C Scarborough, and was directed by David.
“It is remarkable for me to think that Against His Will premiered all those years ago, that the script remains 98% the same, and yet still seems so fresh to audiences seeing it for the first time today, “ David shared. “It really does say something about Jamaica then and now, as well as the world we live in today. It still provokes deep thought and passionate conversation, which is always a good thing in the world of the theater.”
The event follows previous presentations at The Schomburg Center’s American Negro Theatre (ANT) and at The Apollo, both in Harlem, in 2022, and what is exciting is that the series of staged readings are a prelude to a full New York production of the play.
It was a reunion of sorts as the majority of the play’s well received cast from last year’s Apollo presentation returned for the 2023 incarnation, including: Obie Award winner Zainab Jah (Broadway’s Eclipsed), and Tony Award nominee Pascale Armand (Broadway’s Eclipsed). They were joined by: James Duke Walker, Miranda Melhado, Brad Fraizer, Teisha Duncan, Karl O’Brian Williams, Carlene Taylor, Dianne Dixon and Reading Stage Manager Bill Vila.
During the post show talkback, hosted by award winning actress Aixa Kendrick (television’s Walking Dead – Dead City), producer Malik Yoba reiterated his commitment to the project, citing David’s passion and enthusiasm, as well as his own determination to share the piece with as wide an audience as possible, beginning with the Caribbean community. “The appeal of the play is that it is an authentic Jamaican story that portrays a side of the country very different from the often seen ‘bad man ting.’ It’s important for a voice like David’s to be heard and it can be very hard in New York City to make that happen. So that’s why I got involved and why we are already in talks with entities here tonight to successfully share the work, starting with our own Caribbean audiences and moving on from there.”
Consulting Producer Janel C. Scarborough shared that she was enjoying the process of bringing a woman’s sensibility to a story that contains a highly controversial subject matter at its center. “It’s entirely possible for me, as a woman, to put on my producer hat and appreciate the importance of telling this story, while personally holding mixed feelings about the actions of the characters within the story. That’s really what producers do. If you have deep respect and admiration for the work, you are going to do whatever it takes to create a platform for diverse perspectives to be given voice.”
Also, in attendance and bringing their legal perspectives to the play’s issues during the talkback segment were real life Judge Torkwase Sekou, as well as Barbara Cassidy, Co-creator and Co-director of Seeing Rape- a theater and justice programme taught at The John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She was accompanied by several students from the programme.
What we can now say is that Black-produced Broadway productions play a crucial role in shaping the landscape of American theater and continue to make significant contributions to the: cultural, social, and artistic fabric of Broadway. These shows contribute to the broader conversation about race, identity, and social justice, both within and outside the theater community.