Arts & Entertainment
What If King and Carmichael Shared the Same Room? A New Play in Cambridge Asks the Tough Questions.
An intimate look at the human side of the Civil Rights Movement: King and Carmichael face off in a bold new stage drama.
If you’re looking for a way to kick off 2026 with some actual substance, you’ll want to clear your calendar for the third weekend in January.
The Multicultural Arts Center (MAC) in Cambridge is about to debut something special: Stokely & Martin. It’s an original play that takes us behind the podiums and into the private, high-stakes headspace of two icons who changed the world—but didn’t always agree on how to do it.
The Premise: A Movement at a Crossroads
We all know the history books version: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood for nonviolence, and Stokely Carmichael (the man who popularized the term "Black Power") represented a more militant, global shift.
But Stokely & Martin moves past the textbooks. Written and directed by MAC’s own Najee A. Brown, the play imagines a private, vulnerable exchange between these two leaders during the late '60s. This was a time when King was facing massive heat for his stance on the Vietnam War and Carmichael was pushing the movement toward a more radical liberation.
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Why This Isn’t Your Typical History Lesson
Forget dry dialogue. The production promises:
- Poetic, lyrical writing that feels alive and urgent.
- Gospel-infused musical interludes to set the emotional tone.
- Humanity over hagiography. It’s not about "statues" talking; it’s about two men bound by a shared struggle but divided by their methods.
As Najee A. Brown puts it: “I wanted to imagine what might happen if these two men were given the space to speak honestly to one another, without performance or protection.”
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The Details: Catch It Before It’s Gone
The MAC is an intimate space, which is exactly the point. You aren't just watching a play; you're in the room for the argument, the humor, and the brotherhood.
- When: January 16–18, 2026
- Where: Multicultural Arts Center, Cambridge, MA
- The Cast: Featuring Stetson Marshall as MLK and Darren Paul as Stokely Carmichael, with appearances by Coretta Scott King (played by Simone Alyse) and other key movement figures.
How to Get Tickets
The run is short (only three days!), so don't wait on this one. You can grab tickets and see the full schedule over at the
