James Earl Jones Visits for a Classic Conversation with Michael Kahn

Shakespeare Theatre Company Artistic Director Michael Kahn and actor James Earl Jones discussed classic theatre at STC's Classic Conversations with Michael Kahn event. Photo by Nicole Geldart.

Post by Punch Correspondent Darryl Keeton

The Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington D.C. is one of many art venues around the country dedicated to the production of Shakespearean plays.  Highly regarded for their modern reinterpretations of famous works, this season marks their 25th anniversary.  To celebrate this achievement, the Classic Conversations with Michael Kahn series was introduced to highlight well-known actors who developed their craft in the classical theatre.  Previous guests include Kevin Kline and Patrick Stewart.  Thursday evening was the third installment and featured renown actor, James Earl Jones.

Today, fans of Jones recognize him as the voice of Darth Vader from the “Star Wars” films, the authoritative deliverer of “this is CNN” and the lion patriarch, Mufasa in the animated Disney film, “The Lion King”. But his career is highlighted by extensive work on the stage performing in productions of Othello, King Lear, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Fences and others.

Mr. Jones spent about an hour in a casual interview setting with STC Artistic Director Michael Kahn, recounting his early beginnings, his passion for the arts and his desire to continue learning his craft. He and Kahn had met very early in their careers and their familiarity with one another allowed the audience to feel as though they were eavesdropping on a conversation between two old friends.

Hearing Mr. Jones describing his career was a historic walk down America’s memory lane as he told of his father and other actors dealing with McCarthyism in the late 1950′s and his experiences looking for work during the turbulent social period of the 1960′s. Many in the audience were likely surprised to learn that Jones, so well known for his articulate manner and signature voice actually had a stuttering problem as a child, which he still admits to having to control today.

His stories of contemporaries read like a Who’s Who of acting royalty with names like Sidney Poitier, Paul Newman, Richard Harris, Cicely Tyson and Peter O’Toole part of his early cast of peers.  Jones has received many awards as an actor including four Emmys, a Golden Globe, two Tonys, two Cable ACES, two OBIEs, five Drama Desks, and a Grammy.

At age 80, Mr. Jones is still working and is preparing to return to Broadway this year for Gore Vidal’s, “The Best Man”.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Harman Center for the Arts is located on 610 F Street, NW in downtown Washington.

For tickets and more information click here   www.shakespearetheatre.org.

***Darryl Keeton is a distribution executive in the asset management industry. He and his wife Zoe Rodriguez-Keeton share a passion for adventure, travel and sports.  Contact him at dkeeton29@comcast.net.***