• News
    • Research News
    • Faculty News
    • Alumni News
    • Student News
    • STEM News
  • Events
    • Spring 2018 Commencement
  • Publications
    • A&M Magazine
  • Media
    • Videos
      • Videos
      • FAMU Taught Me Series
      • Discover FAMU Series
    • Social Media
    • Student Media
    • Experts Guide
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Request Forms
    • Advertising Rate Sheet
  • FAMU.edu
  • Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
    • Instagram
    • RSS
FAMU Forward
FAMU Forward

Tallahassee, Florida

February 28th, 2021
  • News
    • Research News
      FAMU Professor Awarded National Science Foundation Excellence in Research Grant

      FAMU Professor Awarded National Science Foundation Excellence in Research Grant

      FAMU’s Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative Announces Pensacola Community Forum

      FAMU’s Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative Announces Pensacola Community Forum

      FAMU College of Pharmacy Prints 3D Cornea Using Human Cells 

      FAMU College of Pharmacy Prints 3D Cornea Using Human Cells 

      FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Air Force Research Laboratory Celebrate New Partnership

      FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Air Force Research Laboratory Celebrate New Partnership

    • Faculty News
      FAMU Academic Advisor Ray Bellamy Earns Inaugural Trailblazer Award at the University of Miami

      FAMU Academic Advisor Ray Bellamy Earns Inaugural Trailblazer Award at the University of Miami

      FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Researcher Receives over $1 Million in NSF Grants for Multi-Institutional Bacteria Research

      FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Researcher Receives over $1 Million in NSF Grants for Multi-Institutional Bacteria Research

      FAMU Professor Receives $2.4M Federal Grant To Research Parkinson’s and Other Neurological Disorders

      FAMU Professor Receives $2.4M Federal Grant To Research Parkinson’s and Other Neurological Disorders

      FAMU 2019-2020 Research Funding Totals $60.8M, Highest in School History

      FAMU 2019-2020 Research Funding Totals $60.8M, Highest in School History

    • Alumni News
      FAMU Alum Appointed to USDA Civil Rights Post

      FAMU Alum Appointed to USDA Civil Rights Post

      FAMU Alum Albert Chester To Be Featured on “Not Your Average Hero” Podcast

      FAMU Alum Albert Chester To Be Featured on “Not Your Average Hero” Podcast

      FAMU To Open Community Vaccination Site Next Week

      FAMU To Open Community Vaccination Site Next Week

      FAMU Alum Named Director of NOAA ATDD Lab

      FAMU Alum Named Director of NOAA ATDD Lab

    • Student News
      FAMU Agribusiness Student To Attend 2021 AFA Food Institute

      FAMU Agribusiness Student To Attend 2021 AFA Food Institute

      FAMU-FSU COE Students Among Black Engineer of the Year Award Winners

      FAMU-FSU COE Students Among Black Engineer of the Year Award Winners

      FAMU Marching '100'  Participates in “We Are One” Presidential Inaugural Event

      FAMU Marching '100' Participates in “We Are One” Presidential Inaugural Event

      FAMU Receives $1M From TikTok’s Future Health Heroes Fund

      FAMU Receives $1M From TikTok’s Future Health Heroes Fund

    • STEM News
      FAMU-FSU COE Researchers Find New Microwave Technique That Makes Fertilizer More Efficient, Environmentally Friendly

      FAMU-FSU COE Researchers Find New Microwave Technique That Makes Fertilizer More Efficient, Environmentally Friendly

      FAMU Physics Professor Awarded $350,000 National Science Foundation Grant

      FAMU Physics Professor Awarded $350,000 National Science Foundation Grant

      FAMU Chemical Engineering Student Gets Historic Doctorate, Gets Offer From Harvard

      FAMU Chemical Engineering Student Gets Historic Doctorate, Gets Offer From Harvard

      Electrical Engineering Alumnus Marcos Purty Wins 2020 Black Engineer of the Year Career Achievement Award

      Electrical Engineering Alumnus Marcos Purty Wins 2020 Black Engineer of the Year Career Achievement Award

  • Events
    • Spring 2018 Commencement
  • Publications
    • A&M Magazine
  • Media
    • Videos
      • Videos
      • FAMU Taught Me Series
      • Discover FAMU Series
    • Social Media
    • Student Media
    • Experts Guide
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Request Forms
    • Advertising Rate Sheet
  • FAMU.edu
  • Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
    • Instagram
    • RSS
Home
News
Community

“Sugar Ray” Comes to Life on Essential Theatre Stage

December 10th, 2018 Keith Miles Alumni, Community, Community Feature, Features, News
“Sugar Ray” Comes to Life on Essential Theatre Stage

The FAMU Essential Theatre shined the spotlight on one of its alumni and a Tallahassee native, during its recent presentation of “Sugar Ray.”   The play, which was written by playwright Laurence Holder captures the spirit and power of the legendary boxer brought to life by Reginald Wilson.  Wilson’s solo performance illuminates Robinson’s entry into the boxing ring through his professional championships and defeats.  In the Q&A below with FAMU’s Kimberly Harding, she says he is excited about returning home to FAMU where his artistic career began.

Q: You are a graduate of Florida A&M University. What did you do upon receiving your Bachelor of Arts in Theatre?

A: In August 2008, I started graduate school at the University of Florida (UF) ten days after graduating from FAMU. During my last semester at UF, I went on an internship with the legendary African American theatre producer/director Woodie King Jr., at his New Federal Theatre in New York City. After I received my Master of Fine Arts, I knew that’s where I wanted to be, you know, to work in New York City.

Q: And that you did. You performed “Sugar Ray” in NYC to great acclaim, and your performance earned you a prestigious theatre award—the Audience Development Committee (AUDELCO) Award. What was that experience like?

A: This was my third AUDELECO win; however, this one was most shocking. I did not think I would win. I won for “Best Solo Performance,” and the competition was tough! I had both men and women in my category, and I thought the categories would be separated. I hadn’t even prepared an acceptance speech. So, when I won, all I could do was laugh from the shock.

Q: I know that you started Faith Steps Productions—your own theater company some years ago, which was also a producer of the NYC production of “Sugar Ray.” What was it about the play or the man himself that inspired you to tell his story?

A: Faith Steps Production produced the NYC production along with Bernard Rubie, who owns the restaurant, Harlem Besame, the site of the original production. The play came about after having a meeting with Mr. Rubie about producing me in a play. I had been working as the manager for Harlem Besame for special events and bar supervision. After increasing the clientele at the restaurant, Mr. Rubie felt it was time for me to take my career to the next level. The two of us sat and talked and he asked me what I needed to get something going. I said, “Woodie King Jr.” He told me to contact him, so I did.

We organized a meeting at the restaurant to discuss the possibility of him directing me in a play called “Home” by Samm Art Williams. While meeting, Woodie saw an enlarged picture of Sugar Ray Robinson on the restaurant’s wall. He mentioned the striking resemblance I had to the boxer. Mr. Rubie shared with him that Harlem Besame was in the same building as the original Sugar Ray Enterprises. The idea for the one man show instantly blossomed. Woodie told me he had a script written by Laurence Holder and asked me to read it. I returned to the restaurant that same night and picked up the script. Four weeks later, the show opened.

Q: Having started your training here, what’s it like to return to the Essential Theatre to perform “Sugar Ray” as a professional actor?

A: This is a dream come true. My family and biggest support group is in Tallahassee. I was FAMU’s mascot! I got to know a lot of people. I have always been around the theatre program for as long as I can remember. I recall seeing “The Wiz” when I was a child, and I knew then what I wanted to do as an adult. Working with Mr. Wells again is also breath taking. He has directed me in more shows than anyone else, and I couldn’t have asked for a better interpreter of the script. His vision is incomparable!

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest
Previous article History-Maker Jerry Demings to Address FAMU’s Fall Graduates
Next article A Message from President Larry and Mrs. Sharon Robinson: Annual President's Toy Drive
Related Posts
FAMU Bragg Stadium Renovations Prompt Traffic Pattern Changes

FAMU Bragg Stadium Renovations Prompt Traffic Pattern Changes

February 26th, 2021
FAMU Lawson Center COVID-19 Vaccination Site Opens

FAMU Lawson Center COVID-19 Vaccination Site Opens

February 26th, 2021
FAMU Lawson Center COVID-19 Vaccination Site Set To Open Thursday

FAMU Lawson Center COVID-19 Vaccination Site Set To Open Thursday

February 24th, 2021
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by the FAMU Office of Communications.


Timeline
Feb 26th 9:33 AM
News

FAMU Bragg Stadium Renovations Prompt Traffic Pattern Changes

Feb 26th 7:55 AM
News

FAMU Lawson Center COVID-19 Vaccination Site Opens

Feb 24th 10:19 PM
News

FAMU Lawson Center COVID-19 Vaccination Site Set To Open Thursday

Feb 24th 10:04 PM
News

FAMU Marching ‘100’ To Feature in NBA All-Star Game Festivities

Feb 23rd 2:53 PM
Alumni

FAMU Alum Appointed to USDA Civil Rights Post

Follow Us!
Tweets by @FAMU_1887
RSS FAMU Sports News
  • Florida A&M Suffers Set Back at South Carolina State
  • Florida A&M’s Bryant and Rayburn Homer in Loss to South Florida
  • FAMU Softball Can’t Overcome Florida Gulf Coast, Fall 8-0
  • FAMU’s Hubeaut and Nealy Claim Singles Victories as Rattlers Fall to Stetson 5-2
  • FAMU Baseball Suffers Back-to-Back Losses at South Florida
A&M Magazine Digital Stories
FAMU Videos

Black History Month

"We Shall Overcome" By the FAMU Concert Choir

Upcoming Events
Mar
3
Wed
all-day FAMU Board of Trustees Meeting @ TBD
FAMU Board of Trustees Meeting @ TBD
Mar 3 – Mar 4 all-day
Florida A&M University Board of Trustees Meeting March 3-4, 2021 Time: 8 a.m. Location: TBD
Mar
4
Thu
6:00 PM FAMU Department of Sociology and... @ Via Zoom
FAMU Department of Sociology and... @ Via Zoom
Mar 4 @ 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
FAMU Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice TOWN HALL MEETING @ Via Zoom
The FAMU Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice TOWN HALL MEETING Thursday, March 4 at 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. Via Zoom Engaging the Community in a Conversation about the Potential Impact of a City-wide[...]
Mar
15
Mon
10:00 AM Grant Writers’ Seminars and Work... @ Via Zoom
Grant Writers’ Seminars and Work... @ Via Zoom
Mar 15 @ 10:00 AM – Mar 16 @ 1:30 PM
Grant Writers' Seminars and Workshops @ Via Zoom
Grant Writers’ Seminars and Workshops March 15-16, 2021 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Here is a link to registration  https://famu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIsf-iprD4oHNa8NhUma1UDogVtAglnhPhv
Mar
24
Wed
9:00 AM FAMU DAY OF GIVING 2021 – SAVE T... @ TBD
FAMU DAY OF GIVING 2021 – SAVE T... @ TBD
Mar 24 @ 9:00 AM – Mar 25 @ 4:27 PM
FAMU DAY OF GIVING 2021 - SAVE THE DATES @ TBD
FAMY DAY OF GIVING 2021 SAVE THE DATES March 25-26, 2021 1887 Strikes   (850) 412-5755
View Calendar
Add
  • Add to Timely Calendar
  • Add to Google
  • Add to Outlook
  • Add to Apple Calendar
  • Add to other calendar
  • Export to XML
Calendar
December 2018
S M T W T F S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  
« Nov   Jan »
Archives
Subscribe to Our Newsletter!

Enter your email address to subscribe to our news site and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Follow Us!
Got a Story?

We love hearing from our alumni.  Let us know what you’ve been up to since you left the hill! Contact us here today!

© Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University 2019. All rights reserved.
Powered by the FAMU Office of Communications