American vicarious' Debate: Baldwin vs Buckley begins its tour of New York City's five boroughs at Brooklyn's Old Stone House October 10. Additional performances will be held October 17 and 24.
Broadway alum Teagle F. Bougere (The Tempest, A Raisin In The Sun, The Crucible) stars as Janes Baldwin opposite Eric T. Miller (Mope), who portrays William F. Buckley, Jr. Spencer Hamp and Charlie O’Rourke join them in the cast. Adapted and directed by Founding Artistic Director Christopher McElroen, Debate: Baldwin vs Buckley stages the historic televised debate between author and civil rights leader James Baldwin and William F. Buckley Jr., a conservative political commentator, TV show host, and critic of the Civil Rights movement.
“The objective of the american vicarious in restaging this historic debate is not to inhabit such monumental figures as James Baldwin or William F. Buckley Jr., their shoes are too large to fill,” McElroen said in an earlier statement. “Rather, our desire is to simply place their words, which still resonate over 55 years later, within the voice of contemporary artists. In touring the work around New York City, our hope is to reach beyond the traditional theatre bubble and share the work in venues that allow us to embrace the immediacy and intimacy of the original debate."
The creative team includes video and graphics designer Adam J. Thompson and artist-in-residence and stage manager Jaymes Jorsling. Debate: Baldwin vs Buckley was originally produced in 2020 and broadcast in partnership with BRIC.
The tour will also play at the Queens Theatre November 11-12. In spring 2023, performances will be held in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island with further details to be announced.
For tickets and more information, visit TheAmericanVicarious.org.
