The Mountaintop
- By Caroline Lenher
“I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I’ve Been to the Mountaintop, April 3, 1968
As he ended his speech, some felt Reverend King prophesized his own death; he was tragically assassinated the following day.
What happened during his last night? While we will never truly know, two-time Tony Award nominee Katori Hall (P-Valley, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical) imagines what his final conversations could have been in her Olivier Award-winning play, The Mountaintop.
After returning to the Lorraine Motel, Dr. King ordered room service, which the mysterious Camae delivered. She lingers after bringing his coffee, and they begin a powerful discussion about racism, righteousness, and the rocky path toward justice. The Memphis storm referenced in Dr. King’s speech continues to rage outside, providing a fitting soundtrack as the legacy of America’s most revered civil rights leader is laid bare, revealing his profound humanity. Their conversation is reflective, sometimes funny, and often touching as Dr. King examines his achievements, failures, and unfinished dreams.
Patricia McGregor (Light’s Out: Nat “King” Cole, Skeleton Crew) directs the two-person drama starring Jon Michael Hill (Superior Donuts, Elementary) and Amanda Warren (Dickinson, Gossip Girl).
Performances begin June 6, 2023 in the Gil Cates Theater at the Geffen Playhouse. For tickets and more information, click here.