Playbill VaultPlaybill Vault's Today in Theatre History: August 4In 1988, Denzel Washington made his Broadway debut in Checkmates.
By
Playbill Staff
August 04, 2021
Marsha Jackson and Denzel Washington in Checkmates
1981Melvyn Douglas dies at the age of 80. Born in Macon, Georgia, as Melvyn Edouard Heselberg, Douglas went on to become one of the more accomplished stage actors of his generation, winning a Tony Award for his performance in the original 1960 Broadway production of The Best Man. Douglas' performances in the films Hud and Being There earned him Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor.
1985Charles Dickens' unfinished novel becomes The Mystery of Edwin Drood, a musical by Rupert Holmes at the Delacorte Theater in New York's Central Park. The play-within-a-play adaptation is performed by a cast including Betty Buckley, Judy Kuhn, and Donna Murphy, who play members of a troupe that is performing the show. The production transfers to Broadway's Imperial Theatre later in the season and runs for 608 performances, eventually changing its title to simply Drood.
2002Harlem Song, George C. Wolfe's history of New York City's world-famous African-American neighborhood as told through its music and dance, opens at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, returning that theatre to the ranks of the city's legitimate stages. Tony nominee B.J. Crosby (Smokey Joe's Cafe) and solo performer Queen Esther lead the cast. The show runs through December 29 and releases a cast album.
2014Constantine Maroulis, who received a 2009 Tony nomination for his performance as Drew in the musical Rock of Ages, returns to the role for a limited 12-week engagement.
Arnold Wilkerson, Gilbert Lewis and Denzel Washington in the 1979 Players State Theatre production Ceremonies in Dark Old Men
Denzel Washington and Kirk Kirksey in the 1981 New Federal Theatre production of When The Chickens Come Home To Roost.
Brent Jennings, Steven Anthony Jones, Eugene Lee, Denzel Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, James Pickens and Peter Friedman in the 1981 Negro Ensemble Company production of A Soldier’s Play.
Adolph Caesar, Denzel Washington, Peter Friedman and Cast in the 1981 Negro Ensemble Company production of A Soldier’s Play.
Denzel Washington and S. Epatha Merkerson in the 1984 National Black Touring Circuit production of Every Goodbye Ain’t Gone.
Paul Winfield, Ruby Dee, Denzel Washington and Marsha Jackson in the 1988 Broadway production Checkmates.
Paul Winfield, Ruby Dee, Marsha Jackson and Denzel Washington in the 1988 Broadway production Checkmates.
Martha Swope
Marsha Jackson and Denzel Washington in the 1988 Broadway production Checkmates.
Denzel Washington in the 1990 New York Shakespeare Festival production of Richard III.
Martha Swope
Sharon Washington and Denzel Washington in the 1990 New York Shakespeare Festival production of Richard III.
Denzel Washington in the 2005 Broadway production Julius Caesar.
Colm Feore, Denzel Washington, Jack Willis and Patrick Page in the 2005 Broadway production Julius Caesar.
Patrick Page, Richard Topol and Denzel Washington in the 2005 Broadway production Julius Caesar.
Denzel Washington and Stephen McKinley Henderson in Fences.
Joan Marcus
Viola Davis and Denzel Washington in Fences.
Joan Marcus
Viola Davis, Chris Chalk, Denzel Washington and Mykelti Williamson in the 2010 Broadway production Fences.
Joan Marcus
Denzel Washington and Viola Davis holding their Tony Awards on June 13, 2010.
David Cromer, Bryce Kyle Jenkins, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Anika Noni Rose, Denzel Washington and Sophie Okonedo in the 2014 Broadway production A Raisin in the Sun.
Brigitte Lacombe
Denzel Washington and LaTanya Richardson Jackson in the 2014 Broadway production A Raisin in the Sun.
Sophie Okonedo, Denzel Washington and Anika Noni Rose in the 2014 Broadway production A Raisin in the Sun.
Denzel Washington and Sophie Okonedo in the 2014 Broadway production A Raisin in the Sun.
Brigitte Lacombe
Denzel Washington and Viola Davis
Paramount Pictures
Denzel Washington and Stephen McKinley Henderson
Paramount Pictures
Denzel Washington
Julieta Cervantes
Denzel Washington
Julieta Cervantes
Denzel Washington and the company
Michael Potts, Denzel Washington, and the company
Julieta Cervantes
Denzel Washington and the company
Julieta Cervantes
Denzel Washington in The Tragedy of Macbeth
Alison Cohen Rosa
Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand in The Tragedy of Macbeth
