Directed by Arthur Egeli (Murder on the Cape), The Black Emperor of Broadway is the story of the first African-American leading man on Broadway, Charles Gilpin. Gilpin was cast by playwright, Eugene O’Neill to be the lead in his play “The Emperor Jones” in 1920, a time when “blackface” was the norm on stage. O’Neill and Gilpin clashed numerous times over the cultural representation of Gilpin’s Emperor Jones, and while O’Neill’s name became celebrated, Gilpin’s was tragically lost to history.
The film stars Shaun Parkes (Lost in Space, The Mummy Returns), John Hensley (How To Get Away With Murder, Nip-Tuck), Liza Weil (Gilmore Girls, How To Get Away With Murder), Nick Moran (Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1 & 2, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) and Nija Okoro (Insecure, The Deuce).
Following a successful festival run that included Greenwich International Film Festival, Brooklyn International Film Festival, Macon Film Festival, Harlem International Film Festival and Kansas City Film Festival (where it won Best Narrative Feature), The Black Emperor of Broadway will be available on September 15, 2020 on digital from platforms, and October 6, 2020 on DVD.
With his portrayal of Brutus Jones in Eugene O’Neill’s play, “The Emperor Jones”, Charles Gilpin was hailed as revelatory. He became the first African-American dramatic star in a lead role on Broadway, and was named one of its finest actors. Gilpin immediately became the darling of the theater world, receiving accolades and recognition no other black actor had ever gotten—even being invited to the White House. But by 1930, while O’Neill went on to become a legend, Gilpin was lost to history.
“I grew up learning to revere and honor Eugene O’Neill as the father of American Theater – until I learned about Charles Gilpin”, says director, Arthur Egeli. “The talent of Charles Gilpin made Eugene O’Neill a household name. Why have we forgotten him?”
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