THEATER TALK: RACE
An Interview with Kerry Washington
by Wilson Morales


December 4, 2009



Although she majored in theater when she attended George Washington University over ten years ago, Kerry Washington has -- for the most part -- spent her acting career on the big screen with roles in 'Save the Last Dance,' 'Spike Lee's She Hate Me,' 'Ray, 'I Think I Love My Wife,' and 'The Last King of Scotland.'

Well, the New York City native is about to put her degree to use as she makes her Broadway theater debut in playwright David Mamet's newest play, 'Race,' which also stars Emmy Award winner James Spader, David Alan Grier, and Richard Thomas.

Though much of the plot has been mysterious to insiders, The New York Times stated that 'Race' follows "three attorneys, two black and one white, who are offered a chance to defend a white man charged with a crime against a black woman." Mamet has said that the "theme is race and the lies we tell each other on the subject.

While speaking to Blackfilm.com, Washington spoke about her Broadway debut.

Can you tell us a little bit about your character? I know it's all very hush, hush.

Kerry Washington: Yes, it is very hush, hush but I play a lawyer. I hear other people saying other stuff but I've always been told to just say you're a lawyer--that's it. That's all I'm going to say. I'm a lawyer named 'Susan.' And the play's about race. What else?

So, what did you do to go about preparing for his role? I know it's your Broadway debut? How is it going from movies and having David Mamet call and say, "Hi, are you interested in playing Susan on Broadway?" KW: The preparation is different. It's a different beast. It's a long time since I've done a run this long. I've never done Broadway. But it's been a long time since I've done a run in the theater. I'm thrilled. It's really, really, really a dream come true for me. Growing up in New York, this is what I've always wanted to do more than anything. I'm happy. How did you get attached to the project? KW: I've been missing theater a lot and looking for the right project. So I read a few scripts and met with a few people. I hadn't really found the right project for me, I felt, to make a Broadway debut. And then the opportunity came along to originate a role in a David Mamet play and it was like, "Duh. Sounds amazing." And read the play and it sent my brain spinning and I thought this is incredible. It's so complicated and rich and layered; and this character, I love this character.

How are you preparing for the every day task of just being on stage?

KW: Working with a voice coach, trying to take good care of myself. Getting a lot of sleep.

You have a cast here, some whom you've worked with before. Does it make it easier to just get involved?

KW: I knew David (Alan Grier). David did a day for us on 'Little Man,' the Wayans Brothers movie that I did. And it was the most fun day of any day on set. I told him, it was the only day actually when I almost peed in my pants laughing so hard. And then James and I did a six episode arc on 'Boston Legal'The Last King of Scotland.' So we've already even played lawyers together before. It's nice to walk into the room with some history.

I'm curious. Listening to you talk, sounds like this is one of those roles. Any actress would dream of, but what are the implications of you being where you are in your career and being an African American actress and being in a David Mamet play? What is the significance of all of that? KW: I don't know, we'll see. I don't know. I mean for me it's not really about that. I am an actor and I love my job. What makes me love my job is being a part of telling stories and this is a fun one. It's provocative in the way that David Mamet is and it's just one of those things when I just sat down and I thought I have the opportunity to originate a role in a Mamet play. This is the kind of shit you tell your kids about. As an actor this is a dream come true, so, I don't know what the implications are other than I love my job and I get to do it and I'm really happy about that.

As an African American actress, or even as an actress in general, the last couple of years or so we've been hearing Nia Long and Sanaa Lathan asking where are "these roles" for us. You're in that golden group of actresses of this generation.

KW: That's a nice word, golden group.