Carlyle Brown’s riveting play takes us to Britain’s most notorious holding pen for prisoners of war and domestic criminals during the War of 1812. There we meet “King Dick,” an African American sailor whose life at sea has provided him with remarkable personal freedom at a time when millions of enslaved Africans are still held in bondage. Captured by the British, King Dick becomes the absolute ruler of a segregated prison yard. But when a group of American prisoners from a nearby white yard ask him to join forces with them to celebrate the 4th of July—an event forbidden by their British captors—King Dick must confront the broader meaning of freedom and patriotism, and whether he and his fellow black sailors can find a home somewhere beyond the sea.
Cast & Crew
first presented at Goodman Theatre 2011
Written by Carlyle Brown
Directed by Chay Yew
Cast
Will Allan as Billy Bunting
Patrick Clear as Captain Shortland
Rian Jairell as Jeremy Stiles
Keith Kupferer as Mister Beasley
Gavin Lawrence as Johnny Wayward
Elan Maier as Soldier 1
Steve Pickering as Jack Dawson
David Schlumpf as Soldier 2
Charles Stransky as Morgan
Vincent Teninty as British Guard
James A. Williams as King Dick
Cedric Young as Governor
Dexter Zollicoffer as Deacon Simon
Designers
Kevin Depinet – Scenic Design
Rachel Anne Healy – Costume Design
Jesse Klug – Lighting Design
Mikhail Fiksel – Sound Design
Tanya Palmer – Dramaturg
Nick Sandys – Fight Consultant
Kimberly Osgood – Stage Manager
Logan Vaughn – Casting