Keith Hamilton Cobb

Red Bull Theater presents American Moor at Cherry Lane Theatre

The Off-Broadway premiere of American Moor, written and performed by Keith Hamilton Cobb, begins performances on August 27, 2019.

Tom Millward
Tom Millward

Red Bull Theater presents the Off-Broadway premiere of American Moor, written and performed by Keith Hamilton Cobbs and directed by Kim Weild, which is set to play a limited engagement at the Cherry Lane Theatre from August 27 through October 5, 2019, with an official opening on September 8.

Synopsis: "An indomitable African-American actor auditioning for the role of Othello must respond to the dictates of a younger, white director who presumes to better understand Shakespeare's iconic black character. What could possibly go wrong? In American Moor, this fraught audition turns into an exploration of Shakespeare, race, and America (not necessarily in that order). Fueled by humor and passion, the play paints an essential portrait of an American theater unaware of its failures, and of the culture that supports it."

Mr. Cobbs will star in the production as "the actor" with Josh Tyson appearing as "the director".

The creative team behind American Moor features costume design by Dede Ayite, scenic design by Wilson Chin, lighting design by Alan C. Edwards, and sound design by Christian Frederickson.

American Moor has previously been performed in such theatrical venues at ArtsEmerson, The Anacostia Playhouse, Boston Center for the Arts, and The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London.

(Photo courtesy of Red Bull Theater)

Originally published on

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