Looking for Leroy

See it if you're interested in life/work of Amiri Baraka, the black poet/playwright. Intelligent debate bet AB & intern, but devolves into shouting.

Don't see it if you get tired of talk on same subj. Or want literary heroes to be role models (he wasn't). Some antisemitism.Some powerful poems. Uses music

See it if you have any interest in Black American culture or postwar American theater or what can happen when a frisky cub engages an aging lion.

Don't see it if you don't think theater has any business engaging in an educational enterprise.

Also I approached “LOOKING FOR LEROY” with trepidation. When I was a student playwright Amiri Baraka was a giant on the scene. His book “Blues People” made me a jazz fan; his fiction “The System of Dante’s Hell” was a formative book. But Baraka the chameleon gave most admirers the slip at least once in his long, veering career. I was afraid this play, about a working relationship between aging Baraka & a young wannabe playwright, would be unadulterated homage. Not! Here a disillusioned fanboy spends a lots of stage time asserting his own cultural positions by putting his ex-hero’s dizzying esthetic & political swerves on trial. Though largely a talk play, the talk is choice, engaging fraught issues that still haunt us today, all shaped into a series of progressing scenes that are tight little dramas. Unlike Baraka’s dramatic experiments, this feels old-fashioned, & exploits the old virtues of pace, humor & clarity to teach us lots. And the actors could not be better!... Read more Read less

See it if Like dynamic of lion mentoring a cub, knowledgable re black political movements, art, music, & literature in last 60+ years. Intense drama.

Don't see it if Don't like heady, esoteric, somewhat didactic discussion re the role of culture in the arts. Don't want to work hard to understand all refs.

See it if You are interested in Black history, doecifically in the arts abd you enjoy the perpective of different generations.

Don't see it if You do not like small productions or are not interested in Black history or the Black persoective.

See it if If you are interested in the evolution of Black literature and the social movements of the era. Well written and memorable acting.

Don't see it if If you are no interested in African American history and literature. This is an intense drama.

See it if Very clever and ambitious way to talk about race, art, and representation, in both a historic and contemporary perspective.

Don't see it if You don't like fast-paced talky plays. There is so much material crammed in here, I think you need to see it twice to get the references.

Also Finally,​ a show that really addresses all the complex issues regarding race and artistic politics revolving around representation.
Amiri Baraka and his young acolyte discuss theater past, present and future, but also through many layers of discourse​ touch on many other subjects pertaining to being a man, especially a black man in America.
Great set- great costumes, great choice with actors. I think Tyler Fauntleroy, would have been better directed to show more nuances and not be so INTENSE 100% in his performance, but he was charismatic. And Kim Sullivan was Amiri Baraka. This is what Green Book could have been--- so much better.... Read more Read less

See it if are keenly interested in black theater, music, culture

Don't see it if are not well versed in the works of Amiri Baraka as you may feel lost with many of the specific references to other writers

Also The actors were great and I could appreciate the flow of the script, and the humor and intensity of the characters, but...
there were so many references unfamiliar to me that I felt lost, over-loaded and still somewhat uninformed at the end.

I saw this at the Castillo Theater in NYC in March 2019.... Read more Read less

See it if You’re interested in black history and black art movement; simple but affective production; informative post show talk

Don't see it if You’re not into the theme; you don’t wanna waste time on post-show talk;

See it if You like wordy plays, based on two characters, literary history lesson, black movement, cultural identity, finding your own voice

Don't see it if You arent interested in life of iconic black dramatist &his biggest fan as well as wanna be a playwright,literary discussion about diff topi

See it if You are a fan of Leroy Jones/Amiri Baraka and are interested in the Black Arts movement. The acting exceptional.

Don't see it if You like fluffy theater and aren’t interested nor care to know more about the Black Arts movement.

See it if You are familiar with and/or a fan of LeRoi Jones or are interested in black theater

Don't see it if You dislike playwright LeRoi Jones or his work, or have no interest in black theater or easily offended by profanity

See it if you are a fan of Leroy Jones/Amiri Baraka, Black theater, and/or intelligent writing.

Don't see it if you don't want to think and want fluff and endless action.

Also The audience was filled with people who knew Amiri Baraka, and people for whom he is an icon. It was wonderful to hear the stories, and see their response to this intelligent play. Wonderful work not only by playwright Larry Muhammad but also by director Petronia Paley and actors Kim Sullivan and Tyler Fauntleroy.... Read more Read less

See it if to learn about ; Leroy Jones/Amiri Baraka professional history and the circle and climate in which he functioned.

Don't see it if if you are not keen on a story that has a dry preachy narrative.

See it if You want to learn about Amiri Baraka and listen to two people yell at each other about the role of theater

Don't see it if You want to see something more than an overly didactic discussion between two angry men.

See it if you like daring plays that address social and political issues

Don't see it if you don't like social and political plays

See it if You want a breakdown of theater and the juxtaposition of what black theater should be to, and for, the black community.

Don't see it if This play is more about ideas than deep character development. If you're looking for something light and uplifting worth lots of characters

See it if Absorbing drama with excellent acting

Don't see it if Don.t go if you oppose the black poet activism of the 60's and 70's.

See it if You want to learn about the delvopment of black theater and have an interest in learning about Leroy Jones.

Don't see it if You can’t concentrate on listening to complex dialog

See it if you like good acting and story telling. Great moment to Moment events. Steeped in reality. Insightful on Black theater.

Don't see it if have no interest in black theater or revolutionary thoughts.

See it if You admire Amiri Baraka’s work, like plays that debate relevant issues

Don't see it if You prefer linear plots

See it if you are a fan of anything by or inspired by the works of Amiri Baraka/Leroi Jones.

Don't see it if a two-person play that can feel like an academic conversation at times isn't your thing.

Also This play is an important tribute to an artist whose work defined multiple eras of art, and has inspired generations of artists. There was a great post-show discussion after the performance I saw at which several people who knew Amiri personally shared their personal stories and expressed gratitude for this piece being written and shared with the public. A minor critique would be on a couple anachronisms including the inclusion of a Kendrick Lamar song more than a decade before it was released. Great acting, direction, and overall production.... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy a ride through the history of Black theatre. Very moving interplay between the renowned dramatist and the intern.

Don't see it if If you’re looking for a comedy although there are funny moments this is a bold play about racism and it’s history in the United Ststes.

See it if you want the story of the Black Arts Movement from a character that led it

Don't see it if you're not concerned with social issues or the black experience

See it if I especially enjoyed the young man who consistently was in conflict with Amiri Baraka.He definitely had stage presence and hopefully we will

Don't see it if If you don't want to know about the Black activists of the sixties and seventies.

Also see more of him in other productions.It was a play full of contradictions as is life.That is what made it enjoyable.A good production which theater goers should see.... Read more Read less