Thoughts of a Colored Man
by Keenan Scott II

Broadway

Thoughts of a Colored Man Book Cover — Thoughts of a Colored Man Cover

Highlights

Male

90 mins Present Day Role(s) for Black Actor(s) All Men Ensemble Cast Unit Set/Multiple Settings Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes

Synopsis

Dawn breaks in Brooklyn, and seven black men rise to meet the day.

One of them, a finance director, leaves his luxurious condo to jog around their rapidly gentrifying neighborhood, just as a grocery-store clerk is starting another soul-crushing shift.

At the bus stop, two best friends debate the intricacies of modern dating, while a basketball coach at the youth center grapples with his unrealized potential.

At the hospital, a teacher and his father-in-law welcome a new life.

And at the barbershop, the whole group meets for cuts and conversation as sparks fly over questions of identity and community.

Through the storytelling style of SLAM Narrative, Thoughts of a Colored Man celebrates the hopes, ambitions, joys, and triumphs of black men in a world that often refuses to hear them.

Press Reviews

"A play of immense compassion and keen insight, with a vise-grip on the dreams and disappointments of its characters, Thoughts of A Colored Man is a paean to life as both survival and celebration, a tribute and exploration of the black men who find beauty, dignity, frustration and inspiration where they can"
— Deadline

"Thoughts of A Colored Man lays essential foundations for embracing the humanity of its subjects, while at the same time longing for a world that obviates its existence."
— Variety

"The playwright (despite the singular “man” in the title) drives home a main point of the play – that the universe of black men is not monolithic; it’s kaleidoscopic."
— New York Theater

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Lust 20, retail worker. Heavy New York accent. Charming and naturally flirtatious. Purehearted. As carefree as he is reckless. His words are unrefined, and he has no filter. He is highly sexual and addicted to women and has enough confidence to go around.	male	—	20, retail worker. Heavy New York accent. Charming and naturally flirtatious. Purehearted. As carefree as he is reckless. His words are unrefined, and he has no filter. He is highly sexual and addicted to women and has enough confidence to go around.
Anger 25, youth coach/part-time barber. A former collegiate basketball player that is an academic in disguise. He carries a chip on his shoulder. Has a rawness to him. Must have the energy of SLAM poetry during poetic scenes.	male	—	25, youth coach/part-time barber. A former collegiate basketball player that is an academic in disguise. He carries a chip on his shoulder. Has a rawness to him. Must have the energy of SLAM poetry during poetic scenes.
Depression 28–30, grocery store clerk. An astute survivor. A true neighborhood guy at heart. Highly intelligent and steady; equally comfortable in multiple different environments, can adapt to his surroundings, but at times he exposes himself to be socially awkward.	male	—	28–30, grocery store clerk. An astute survivor. A true neighborhood guy at heart. Highly intelligent and steady; equally comfortable in multiple different environments, can adapt to his surroundings, but at times he exposes himself to be socially awkward.
Passion 35, teacher. A scholar from the inner city. A seasoned guy who has seen a lot in his life and is very in tune with the world around him. He has an articulate but edgy presence. He possesses the spirit of ancestral orators. Must be rhythmically inclined and fluent with poetic verse.	male	—	35, teacher. A scholar from the inner city. A seasoned guy who has seen a lot in his life and is very in tune with the world around him. He has an articulate but edgy presence. He possesses the spirit of ancestral orators. Must be rhythmically inclined and fluent with poetic verse.
Happiness Late 30s–early 40s, financial director. An upper-middle class man originally from the South. A man who happens to be gay, but his sexuality does not rule his life, nor does he wear it on his sleeve. He has a polished look and demeanor with Ivy League schooling. A dressed-down casual Brooks Brothers man. He’s externally unapologetic, but deeply caring internally.	male	30s	Late 30s–early 40s, financial director. An upper-middle class man originally from the South. A man who happens to be gay, but his sexuality does not rule his life, nor does he wear it on his sleeve. He has a polished look and demeanor with Ivy League schooling. A dressed-down casual Brooks Brothers man. He’s externally unapologetic, but deeply caring internally.
Wisdom 60–65, shop owner/entrepreneur. A man of dark complexion, African born. An immigrant to the United States. His accent has weakened over time. Heavy thinking man. Regal and confident, but equally humble. He has a calm presence and possesses a strength only age can bring. All characters on stage together form the ensemble. All actors in this world are black in race, heritage, culture, and experience. The cast should be diverse in height, size, complexion, and hairstyle to fill as much of the spectrum as possible.	male	—	60–65, shop owner/entrepreneur. A man of dark complexion, African born. An immigrant to the United States. His accent has weakened over time. Heavy thinking man. Regal and confident, but equally humble. He has a calm presence and possesses a strength only age can bring. All characters on stage together form the ensemble. All actors in this world are black in race, heritage, culture, and experience. The cast should be diverse in height, size, complexion, and hairstyle to fill as much of the spectrum as possible.
Love 18, college student. Poet by trade. Young in every sense of the word. He’s a sneaker head and dresses like the youth of now, he cares about his clothes. Shy in certain situations. Needs to be well versed with the language of poetry.	male	—	18, college student. Poet by trade. Young in every sense of the word. He’s a sneaker head and dresses like the youth of now, he cares about his clothes. Shy in certain situations. Needs to be well versed with the language of poetry.