ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCE
March 9, 7:30PM
Live
General Seating Only: $25
Presented in collaboration with the american vicarious
“Is the American Dream at the expense of the American Negro?”
This was the topic on February 18, 1965 when an overflow crowd packed the Cambridge Union in Cambridge, England, to bear witness to a historic televised debate between heavyweights James Baldwin, the leading literary voice of the Civil Rights Movement, and William F. Buckley, Jr., a fierce critic of the movement and America’s most influential conservative intellectual.
The stage was set for an epic confrontation that pitted Baldwin’s call for a moral revolution in race relations against Buckley’s unabashed elitism and implicit commitment to white supremacy. This historic clash reveals the deep roots and lasting legacy of racial conflict that continues to haunt America.
Harlem Stage presents the american vicarious’ Debate: Baldwin vs Buckley, directed by Christopher McElroen and called “unmissable!” by Vulture, in the intimate setting of the Harlem Stage Gatehouse, restaging the historic debate to place Baldwin and Buckley’s words, which still resonate 58 years later, within the voice of contemporary artists Teagle F. Bougere (Broadway’s The Tempest with Patrick Stewart, A Raisin In The Sun with Phylicia Rashad, and Ivo van Hove’s The Crucible) as Baldwin and Eric T. Miller (HBO’s Mare of Easttown and Mope at the Ensemble Studio Theater) as Buckley, with Spencer Hamp and Charlie O’Rourke.
Cast and Creative Team:
Directed by Christopher McElroen
Produced by Erica Laird
Featuring: Teagle F. Bougere (Baldwin), Eric T. Miller (Buckley)
with Spencer Hamp (Haycock), Charlie O’Rourke (Burford)
Video design by Adam J. Thompson
Artist in Residence: Jaymes Jorsling
Run Time: 60 minutes
Debate: Baldwin vs Buckley was originally produced in 2020 and broadcast in partnership with BRIC.
This program is supported, in part, by, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
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Photo by Christopher McElroen