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WORLD PREMIERE

Stokely:
The Unfinished Revolution

by Nambi E. Kelley
Directed by Tasia A. Jones

May 24, 2024 — Jun 16, 2024

Civil rights activist Kwame Ture, born Stokely Carmichael, was a towering icon; a man of immense domestic and international importance; a man who refused to back down, step aside, or remain silent. But he was also just that: a man. Blending the historical and the personal with astonishing grace, Stokely: The Unfinished Revolution depicts one man’s rise to prominence and the many people who made it possible, posing the question: what does a movement mean to one man, and what does one man mean to a movement?

Tasia A. Jones makes her Court directorial debut with playwright and Prince Prize winner Nambi E. Kelley’s (Native Son) evocative world premiere. Tracing the journey from Stokely Carmichael, the man, to Kwame Ture, the legend, Kelley illuminates the power of imperfection to humanize, and the power of that humanity to change the world.

Digital Program

Sponsored by

Sponsored by

Gustavo Bamberger and Martha Van Haitsma

This project is supported in part by

Stokely: The Unfinished Revolution was created with funds from the Prince Prize for Commissioning Original Work, which was awarded to Nambi E. Kelley and Court Theatre in 2018. Stokely: The Unfinished Revolution was developed in part at the Hermitage Artist Retreat. 

Photo of Wandachristine and Anthony Irons by Michael Brosilow. Accessibility equipment loaned by Cultural Access Collaborative with special thanks to the Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.

Artistic Team

Cast

Videos

Photos

Articles and Interviews

Stoked about Stokely

Critics are enthralled by STOKELY: THE UNFINISHED REVOLUTION, the newest work from Playwright Nambi E. Kelley.

The Responsibility of Love

Adam Green, PhD, Associate Professor at The University of Chicago, considers Stokely Carmichael's relationship to organizing and the reputation that came from it.

Honoring Legacy

Director of Engagement Kamilah Rashied and Raquel Flores-Clemons, archivist and head of the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection, discuss the importance of preservation, setting the stage for the Black Power Series.

Related Events

  • The Black Power Series → May 23 - June 10, 2024

    In conjunction with the world premiere of STOKELY: THE UNFINISHED REVOLUTION, Court Theatre presents the Black Power Series, a collection of public talks, artist responses and archival showings, and exhibitions that explore the monumentality of Black contributions to American history and culture. All events in the Black Power Series are free and open to the public.

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