American star to make Joburg stage debut
BRAAMFONTEIN - Highly acclaimed star of American TV, film and stage, Charles S Dutton, will make his Joburg stage debut next month.
Dutton’s autobiographical one-hander, From Jail to Yale: Serving Time on Stage is one of the highlights of this year’s Johannesburg Arts Alive International Festival theatre programme.
“[The play] is the riveting personal story and narrative of the actor, who spent a total of 14 years in and out of the United States prison system before discovering theatre while in prison – and thus, changing his life,” said Joburg Theatre spokesperson Saskia Goldberg.
After Dutton’s release from prison, he was accepted to study at the prestigious Yale School of Drama in New Haven, Connecticut, from which he graduated in 1983.
“[He] went on to become one of America’s premier stage actors, nominated twice for Tony Awards on Broadway for the plays of August Wilson – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and The Piano Lesson,” she said.
“Dutton was also nominated five times for Emmy Awards in television, winning three of these, one for directing the critically acclaimed HBO mini series The Corner in 2000.”
The actor has also been nominated for Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Directors Guild of America awards.
Local audiences will recognise Dutton as the star and executive producer of the comedy-drama Roc, and from appearances in House, The Sopranos, and HBO series, Oz.
“All of these accomplishments occurred after he dropped out of school at age 12, spent five years in juvenile prisons, and at age 17 went to adult prisons until the age of 26,” said Goldberg.
This informative, inspiring, self-effacing and dramatic narrative, intertwined with a medley of scenes from many of the plays Dutton has performed over the years.
“In his stage show, Dutton relates how he grew up on the streets of Baltimore, then discovered his passion for acting while serving a seven-year term in prison, where he directed and acted in his first play,” she said.
From Jail to Yale: Serving Time on Stage will run from 2 until 6 September at The Fringe at Joburg Theatre, corner of Simmonds and Stiemens streets, Braamfontein at 8pm.
Details: 0861 670 670; www.joburgtheatre.com
