Splendid Mummer

About the show

The play explores the extraordinary life of Ira Frederick Aldridge (1807—1867), the first African American actor to achieve international success as a Shakespearean tragedian. The narrative spans from Aldridge's upbringing in New York City, the racial prejudice that prompted him to emigrate to England in 1824, and his ultimate rise to fame as he toured across Great Britain and continental Europe; earning critical acclaim and high honors for his powerful portrayals of Othello, Aaron the Moor, Macbeth, Shylock, and King Lear.