An American Center for New Plays
Recipient of the Regional Theater Tony Award

Charles Smith

Charles Smith’s plays explore issues surrounding the perceptions of race and politics from an African-American point-of-view. Victory Gardens premieres include Takunda, Jelly Belly, Cane, Freefall, The Sutherland, Knock Me a Kiss and Free Man of Color (commissioned for the Ohio University bicentennial; winner of the 2004 Joseph Jefferson Award for New Work; winner of 2004 John W. Schmid Award). These and other plays (including Les Trois Dumas, Pudd’nhead Wilson and Black Star Line) have been produced at The Goodman Theatre, Penumbra, St. Louis Black Rep, New Federal Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre and Berkeley Repertory Theater. His play Jelly Belly was recently published by Northwestern Press in Seven Black Plays. Smith is currently finishing the book for the musical Shoot the Piano Player in addition to finishing the new play Denmark for Victory Gardens to open its new home at the Biograph Theater in 2006.

 

Plays: 

Jelly Belly, 1985

Takunda, 1987

Gold Leaf Rag Time Blues, 1987

Young Richard, l989

Cane, 1991

City of Gold, l992

Freefall, 1993

Black Star Line, l996

The Sutherland, 1997

Les Trois Dumas, l998

Knock Me a Kiss, 2000

Pudd’nhead Wilson, 2002

Sister Carrie, 2002

Free Man of Color, 2004

Denmark, 2006