Baraka’s later plays express the Marxist-Leninist- Mao Zedong philosophy he embraced in the mid-1970’s. Gauging the success of monumental dramas such as The Motion of History and The Sidney Poet Heroical is difficult, in part because they are rarely performed, in larger part because of a generally hostile political climate. The texts of the plays reflect Baraka’s continuing interest in multimedia performance styles, incorporating a great deal of musical and cinematic material. Both plays comprise numerous brief scenes revealing the action of historical forces, primarily economic in The Motion of History and primarily racial in The Sidney Poet Heroical. – Literariness.org
He also has a new full‐length play, “Sidnee Poet Heroical or, If in Danger of Suit, The Kid Poet Heroical.” The hero Of the play is “an actor who comes to America from the West Indies, and is subject to the dominant culture. That changes him from what he was to what America is. The play is about his attempt to reverse the process.” Slyly, Mr. Baraka confessed, “It bears a resemblance to a certain actor.” One problem in getting the play produced—besides the danger of a lawsuit—is the elaborateness of the production. The play combines music, dance, drama and film. It is, Mr. Baraka said, “close to what I want to see happen in the theater now.” – NY Times March 13, 1973
| Credit | Artist | Photo |
|---|---|---|
| Playwright | Amiri Baraka |  |
| Director | Amiri Baraka | |
| Actor | Bever-leigh Banfield |  |
| Actor | George Fludd |  |
| Actor | Charles Grant Green | |
| Actor | Gwendolyn Hardwick |  |
| Actor | Steve Itkin | |
| Actor | Nicholas Mele |  |
| Actor | Saundra McClain |  |
| Actor | Count Stovall |  |
| Actor | Andre Mtume | |
| Actor | Gia Williams |  |
| Actor | Neville Richen |  |
| Actor | Susan Slavin |  |
| Actor | Lois Weaver |  |
All 1974-75 Season productions: