Photo by John Seyfried

Veteran actor Avery Brooks '70, hon.'96, who has close ties to the Oberlin community, received a big welcome from campus and community members when he appeared in West Lecture Hall recently for a dramatic reading of Death of a Salesman.

Brooks—who has earned critical acclaim for appearances on stage, screen, and television in productions ranging from Paul Robeson to Deep Space 9— and a small cast performed scenes from Arthur Miller's classic play under the direction of Justin Emeka '94, visiting professor of African American Studies and theater and dance.

Emeka also acted for the reading. Other cast members were Petronia Paley, Reginald Jackson, and Abdullah Bey; and Oberlin students Alex Birnie '09, Heather Harvey '11, and saxophonist Arnold Lee'09.

At the invitation of Oberlin President Marvin Krislov, the ensemble came to Oberlin to help Emeka conduct an experiment by retelling a classic American play through African American culture.

"I believe that as the American theater begins to cast black actors into mainstream plays, it is also important to tell the story through the black perspective," Emeka says. "By doing so, a unique aesthetic will be created that will invite new audiences while providing new experiences for traditional playgoers."

Brooks and Emeka both value the mentoring they received from Calvin Hernton (1932-2001), a scholar, critic, poet, and a member of African American Studies department for 27 years. Their professional relationship through the years kindled the idea for the production.

Several years ago, Emeka performed with Brooks in a production of King Lear at the Yale Repertory Theatre. It was during the Lear production that Emeka says he began to see the possibilities of incorporating black culture into the classics.

"Emeka's ideas excited Oberlin President Marvin Krislov, who championed staging the reading on campus with Brooks," says Caroline Jackson-Smith, associate professor of theater and chair of the African American Studies department, which also supported the reading.

The climax of the reading enthralled audience members, who roared with applause as the cast took their bows. The ensemble has been invited to return to Oberlin for a full production of the play next year.

Depending on the availability of the actors, their return could be a possibility, Jackson-Smith says. She's also looking forward to Emeka's next stage role as Toledo in her production of August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom in Hall Auditorium, April 17-20.