Charles Randolph-Wright facts for kids

Charles Randolph-Wright is an American director, producer, and writer. He works in movies, TV shows, and plays. He also writes scripts for TV and movies, and creates plays.

Early Life and Education

Charles Randolph-Wright grew up in York, South Carolina. He was a top student at York High School. He then went to Duke University on a special scholarship. He first planned to study medicine.

While at Duke, he also studied acting in London. He learned dance in New York City. He changed his mind about medicine. He graduated from Duke with degrees in theater and religion.

Career Highlights

Charles Randolph-Wright has had a long and successful career. He has worked in theater, television, and film.

Theater Work

Randolph-Wright started his Broadway career in 1981. He was part of the first cast of the musical Dreamgirls. After that, he became a well-known director, writer, and producer in theater.

Directing Plays

He directed the Broadway show Trouble in Mind. This play was written by Alice Childress. It first came out in 1955. Producers wanted to change the play's message about racism. Childress refused, so it didn't open on Broadway then. Randolph-Wright worked for many years to bring it to Broadway. It finally opened in 2021, just as Childress wrote it. The play was nominated for four Tony Awards.

He also directed American Prophet: Frederick Douglass in His Own Words. This musical tells the story of Frederick Douglass. Douglass was a famous speaker and leader who fought against slavery. Randolph-Wright co-wrote the musical. It opened in 2022. Important people like a Supreme Court Justice attended the opening.

Randolph-Wright directed Motown: The Musical. This show is about Berry Gordy and the famous Motown music label. It opened on Broadway in 2013. It also toured across the U.S. and played in London.

He co-wrote and directed Born For This: A New Musical. This musical is about the life of BeBe Winans, a famous gospel singer. It won awards for Best Director and Best Playwright.

Other plays he directed include Sophisticated Ladies and Through The Night. He also directed a tour of Porgy and Bess. He directed two musicals by Frank Loesser for Arena Stage. One was Guys and Dolls, which toured for its 50th anniversary. He also directed Señor Discretion Himself.

He directed Ruined, a play that won a Pulitzer Prize. He also directed They're Playing Our Song in Brazil. He directed Akeelah and the Bee, a play based on the movie.

Writing Plays

Randolph-Wright wrote the play Blue. It first showed in 2000. It later played in New York and California. Famous actors like Phylicia Rashad starred in it.

He also wrote and directed Cuttin' Up. This play was based on a popular book about Black barber shops. It was performed in several cities.

His other plays include The Night Is A Child and Love in Afghanistan. He co-wrote the musical Me and Mrs. Jones. It featured the music of Philadelphia soul.

Television Work

Charles Randolph-Wright has directed and produced many TV shows. He was an executive producer with Oprah Winfrey for the series Delilah. He also directed episodes of Greenleaf.

His directing credits include shows like Will Trent, The Santa Clauses, and Katy Keene. He also worked on Lincoln Heights. He was a producer and writer for the show Linc's. He has directed many commercials and music videos. He even acted in shows like Melrose Place.

Film Work

Randolph-Wright directed his first movie, Preaching to the Choir, in 2005. It won awards at the American Black Film Festival.

He was an executive producer for the film Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back. This movie won a major award at DOC NYC in 2019. He has also written screenplays for big studios like HBO and Disney.

Awards and Recognition

Charles Randolph-Wright has received many honors for his work.

In 2010, he received the Paul Robeson Award. This award honors artists who have made important contributions. Past winners include famous actors like Sidney Poitier.

He also received a three-year residency at Arena Stage. This allowed him to focus on writing new plays.

In 2017, Duke University gave him their Distinguished Alumni Award. This award celebrates graduates who have made great contributions to their field and to humanity.

Randolph-Wright also serves on the boards of several theater groups. These include the Roundabout Theatre Company and the American Theatre Wing. He helps guide these organizations. He is also on the board of the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives. This group works for racial fairness and to end human exploitation.