FEATURED STORY

Thoughts of a Broadway Playwright

Keenan Scott II Shares His Wisdom With the World and FSU Students

BY TY DEMARTINO ’90

Scott’s dramatic work about a day in the lives of seven Black men in New York City has been receiving rave reviews since its opening this past fall. Critics have heralded the piece as “captivating and piercing” and “the most important play of the 21st century.” And it was written while Scott was a theatre major at FSU and first performed in the very Performing Arts Center where students have gathered today, predawn.

“This is not the trip where we have time to run to Central Park to go ice skating,” said Nicole Mattis, chair of the FSU Theatre Department, running through the day’s “to-do” lists, which included having vaccination proof ready to enter the theatre and the orderly dispersing of tickets. “Hopefully we’re going to have some alone time with Keenan.”

Six hours and several boxes of Pop-Tarts later, the two buses rolled onto 45th Street in Times Square, stopping a few blocks from The John Golden Theatre – the home to Scott’s acclaimed brainchild. As FSU students filed off and crossed crowded intersections crammed with honking cabs and busy “New Yawkers,” they were greeted by the welcoming face of the playwright himself. Scott stood out in front of the theatre, under a yellow and black awning that adorned his name in bold, 15-inch font, wearing his “Frostburg Alumni” hoodie.

It was a full-circle moment.

Alumni and faculty, many who ventured to NYC on their own, joined up with the Frostburg group inside the theatre to listen to the wisdom of Scott’s play – presented in 90 minutes without interruption (because it could not be interrupted).

FSU students cheered with the audiences, shouting “yes” and “amen” in agreement with the powerful action and dialogue happening on stage. The black and red production design colors were reminiscent of Scott’s alma mater (either by chance or design). And, at the end, students rose to their feet to applaud the actors, producers and one of their own.

Keenan Scott, II ’09 took time after his show to speak to as many of the students and alumni in attendance as he could.

As the standing ovation subsided, the cast acknowledged Frostburg State University’s presence in the house before Scott was whisked to the edge of the stage for a post-show talkback with famed author/speaker and Vanderbilt University Professor Michael Eric Dyson.

“What you saw here today was a redemption on Black masculinity,” Dyson commented.

“I just write my people as I know they are. I’m not preaching if I just write my life,” Scott replied. “I wanted to create an opportunity and a space for audiences to see all of these men in their complexities. ... Art is supposed to make you uncomfortable.”

He shared with the audience that the play was 15 years in the making. “I’ve lived with these characters. I’ve grown up with them.”

It was a journey that started at Frostburg.

FSU alums Jha’Neal Blue ’18 and Topaz Harris ’18 made their own journey from Baltimore to see the matinee.

“It represented a lot of the men in my family,” Harris said.

“The poetry was phenomenal,” Blue added.

When the stage lights dimmed, ushers led the audience back out to 45th Street. And Scott filed out with them. The Western Maryland cohort stood in a group, as the writer paused a moment to share his thoughts.

“Literally, this would not be possible without Frostburg. I started writing this when I was living in Frederick Hall,” he began, thanking his mentors in attendance, including Theatre faculty Mattis, Mairzy Yost-Rushton and Darrell Rushton, and Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs Robin Wynder ’80/M’87, with a special acknowledgement for her late husband, Bernard Wynder ’78/M’84. “Because if it wasn’t for them, you all wouldn’t be here right now.”

As the street applause died down, Scott remained on the scene to answer every question from every student and aspiring playwright, e.g., “What do I do when I get writer’s block?” “Write it and have your friends read it. You need to hear your work read aloud.” He signed autographs on Playbills and posed for countless selfies for students to post (and boast) on their social media accounts.

Fighting back tears, Scott concluded to his gathered FSU family: “It just means the world. You remind me of me. I was you all. So thank you.”

One by one, as the students left to grab a bite to eat or a souvenir before their return to the buses headed back to Frostburg, Scott remained behind and watched them exit before heading back into the theatre.

He made certain each one had their moment and felt special, as the sun started to set on Times Square.

Editor’s Note: As this edition of Profile went to press, Thoughts of a Colored Man closed abruptly on Dec. 22, 2021, due to the upsurge of COVID in New York City and its strain on the Broadway community. It was originally planned to run until March 13, 2022. At the final show, to help out the cast, Keenan Scott II made his Broadway acting debut and performed the role of “Wisdom” (with script in hand). Scott had five minutes to prepare. After the experience, the playwright posted on social media: “WE MADE HISTORY LAST NIGHT.”

For more information on Thoughts of a Colored Man, visit thoughtsofacoloredman.com.