Black Theatre Troupe and Childsplay Team Up To Perform Story of Muhammed Ali
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Childsplay and Black Theatre Troupe are joining forces to produce “And In This Corner: Cassius Clay,” to be performed from Jan. 27 through March 3.
The play is the story of the young Muhammed Ali growing up in the segregated South of the 1950s. The play documents Ali’s youth under his birth name of Cassius Clay and his rise to prominence in the world of boxing and beyond.
“And In This Corner: Cassius Clay,” will be performed Saturdays and Sundays from Jan. 27-March 3 at the Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center, 1333 E. Washington St. in Phoenix. Tickets are $25 and are on sale at blacktheatretroupe.org or childsplayaz.org or by calling 602-258-8129.
“And In This Corner: Cassius Clay” is directed by Michael Jerome Johnson and features Raphael Hamilton in the title role. Raphael has appeared in several productions with Black Theatre Troupe including last season’s “Seven Guitars” and “Broke-ology” in 2017. Michael Jerome is a nationally acclaimed fight director and master instructor whose work has been seen at The Kennedy Center, Arena Stage and The Shakespeare Theatre.
Childsplay is an acclaimed theater for young audiences, and Black Theatre Troupe is one of the longest consecutive running Black theater companies in the United States.