Thurgood (play)
| Thurgood | |
|---|---|
| Written by | George Stevens, Jr. |
| Date premiered | 2006 |
| Place premiered | Westport Country Playhouse |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | Historical drama |
Thurgood is a one-man play depicting the life and career of Thurgood Marshall. Written by George Stevens, Jr., the play premiered on Broadway in 2008. It was later adapted for television and broadcast on HBO, with Laurence Fishburne receiving nominations for both a Tony Award and a Primetime Emmy Award for his performance.
Synopsis
The production depicts Marshall’s journey from his childhood in Baltimore to his landmark legal work, including arguing Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, and ultimately becoming the first African-American Supreme Court justice.[1]
Production history
The show premiered in 2006 at the Westport Country Playhouse, starring James Earl Jones and directed by Leonard Foglia.[2]
The production featured Scenic Design by Allen Moyer, Costume Design by Jane Greenwood, Lighting Design by Brian Nason, Sound Design by Ryan Rumery and Projection Design by Elaine J. McCarthy.[2]
The play then transferred to Broadway at the Booth Theatre on April 30, 2008, starring Laurence Fishburne.[3]The production received positive reviews, with New York Times theatre critic Charles Isherwood calling it "surprisingly absorbing, at times even stirring" and "uplifting."[4] For his role as Marshall, Fishburne was nominated for the 2008 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play, along with winning a Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for solo performance. The production closed on August 17, 2008, after 126 performances and 19 previews.[5]
On February 24, 2011, HBO screened a filmed version of the play which Fishburne had performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The production was described by the Baltimore Sun as "one of the most frank, informed and searing discussions of race you will ever see on TV."[6][7] On February 16, 2011, a screening of the film was hosted by the White House as part of its celebrations of Black History Month.[8][9] Fishburne was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for his performance that same year.[10]
Awards and nominations
2008 Broadway production
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Tony Award | Best Actor in a Play | Laurence Fishburne | Nominated | [11] |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Solo Performance | Won | [12] | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Solo Performance | Won | [13][14] | ||
| Drama League Award | Distinguished Production of a Play | Nominated | [15] | ||
2011 Film
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie | Laurence Fishburne | Nominated | [16] |
Notes
- ^ "Thurgood". Geffen Playhouse. 8 July 2010. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
- ^ a b Frank Rizzo, "Review: Thurgdood" Variety, May 14, 2006
- ^ BWW 2007.
- ^ Isherwood, Charles (2008-05-01). "Trials and Triumphs on the Road to Justice". The New York Times. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
- ^ "Thurgood (Broadway, Booth Theatre, 2008)". Playbill. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
- ^ Zurawik 2011.
- ^ IMDB 2011.
- ^ White House 2011.
- ^ McPeak 2011.
- ^ "Emmy Nominations 2011: Full List". The Hollywood Reporter. September 1, 2011. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
- ^ "2008 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "Drama Desk 2008 Award Winners Announced!". BroadwayWorld. May 19, 2008. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (May 12, 2008). "South Pacific Is Big Winner in Outer Critics Circle Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
- ^ "2007–2008 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
- ^ "Drama League 2008 nominations". New York Theatre Guide. 19 October 2017. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
- ^ "Emmy Nominations 2011: Full List". The Hollywood Reporter. September 18, 2011. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
References
- Rizzo, Frank (May 14, 2006). "Thurgood". Variety. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
- BWW (October 24, 2007). "Laurence Fishburne is 'Thurgood' on Broadway Spring 2008". broadwayworld.com. Retrieved March 9, 2008.
- Zurawik, David (February 18, 2011). "HBO's 'Thurgood' is an exceptional look at race and the law". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
- IMDB (February 28, 2011). "Thurgood at IMDB.com". IMDB.com. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
- White House (February 24, 2011). "White House Screening of "Thurgood"". whitehouse.gov. Retrieved January 2, 2012 – via National Archives.
- McPeak, Joaquin (February 16, 2011). "City of Sacramento Press Release" (PDF). Office of Mayor Kevin Johnson, City of Sacramento. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 4, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2012.