*Common will make his Broadway debut this fall in “Between Riverside and Crazy,” directed by Austin Pendleton.
Second Stage will present the Broadway premiere of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play at the Hayes Theater. The previews begin on Nov. 30 before opening on Dec. 19, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Common will star as the recently paroled Junior in the dark comedy.
The rapper/actor is an Emmy, Oscar, and Grammy winner and he may be chasing a Tony Award to secure the EGOT title.
The cast of “Between Riverside and Crazy” reportedly includes several Off-Broadway cast members returning to their roles, including McKinley Henderson, Victor Almanzar, Elizabeth Canavan, Rosal Colón, Liza Colón-Zayas and Michael Rispoli, per THR.
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Here’s the official synopsis via Playbill:
City Hall is demanding more than his signature, the landlord wants him out, the liquor store is closed — and the Church won’t leave him alone. For ex-cop and recent widower Walter “Pops” Washington and his recently paroled son Junior, the struggle to hold on to one of the last great rent stabilized apartments on Riverside Drive collides with old wounds, sketchy new houseguests, and a final ultimatum in this Pulitzer Prize-winning dark comedy from Stephen Adly Guirgis. For Pops and Junior, it seems the old days are dead and gone — after a lifetime living Between Riverside and Crazy.
“Between Riverside and Crazy” has won several notable honors such as the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for drama, the 2015 New York Drama Critics Circle Award for best play, and the 2015 Lucille Lortel Award for outstanding play, as reported by THR.
“This has been a dream of mine for a very long time to act in a play, to do theater, and to be a part of a theater company. I am supremely grateful and overwhelmingly inspired to be a part of Between Riverside and Crazy,” Common wrote on Instagram Friday. “I can’t wait to begin this process and to live this journey.”
He added, “You never could have told me that little south side boy that he would be on Broadway.”
“I have been told how hard the work is and that there’s nothing like it,” Common shared. “This is what I want as an artist and as a being that believes art can heal and inspire. I want to be a part of the theater community to express that light and love. I thank GOD for this opening of doors and this blessing. So pls come check out our play y’all. Thank you @2stnyc for the opportunity! Wooooooooo.”
