“Thoughts of a Colored Man” has ended its Broadway run, producers announced Thursday.
The new play, written by Keenan Scott II, played its final performances Wednesday night. It opened at the Golden Theatre on Oct. 13, 2021 and was scheduled to run through March 13.
Scott stepped into one of the role in the play Tuesday night, after a cast member tested positive for COVID-19 and two others called out with non-COVID related illnesses.
“We have tried our hardest to safely navigate the current unfortunate health crisis, but ultimately we are unable to continue under the unfortunate conditions of Covid exposure in the city and country,” the show posted on social media late Thursday.
This is the third production to end its run early during the most recent wave of the coronavirus, and it comes immediately after “Waitress” announced its closure. “Jagged Little Pill” announced Monday that it had already played its final show. “Chicken & Biscuits” was the first this season to cite COVID-19 show cancellations for its closure in November.
“Thoughts of a Colored Man” was capitalized for up to $5 million. As a new show, it was not eligible for the up to $10 million in federal grant funding received by productions that began before the theatrical shutdown.
The play was directed by Steve H. Broadnax III and produced by Brian Moreland, Ron Simons, Diana DiMenna, Samira Wiley and Sheryl Lee Ralph. The production says it was the “first Broadway show to be written, directed by, starring and lead produced by Black men.”
Upon closing, the cast included Dyllón Burnside, Bryan Terrell Clark, Da’Vinchi, Luke James, Forrest McClendon, Tristan Mack Wilds and Esau Pritchett. Three new cast members had recently been announced to join the cast starting in January.
