Monday, April 27, 2026 was a day that will always be special in my heart. On that day, the Black Theater community came together to celebrate the late Woodie King Jr., a gentle giant. The Ethel Barrymore Theatre on West 47th Street, the current home to August Wilson’s “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone,” was overflowing with theater A-listers including André De Shields, Barbara Montgomery, Chuck Cooper, Reggie Wilson, Richard Wesley, Ralph Carter, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Stephen Byrd, Voza Rivers, Rome Neal, Jackie Alexander, Perri Gaffney, Jackie Jeffries and so many others who came to experience a glorious program “Celebrating the Life & Legacy of Woodie King Jr.” Founder of New Federal Theatre, the actor, producer, director, author, and so much more was recognized, remembered and praised by so many people in the theater and television community. Woodie opened doors for so many creatives through the five decades he blessed us with his presence.
The program included heavy hitters in the Black theater community. Directors Debbie Allen and Kenny Leon hosted the event and passionately shared their thoughts on Woodie. Allen said, “For over 50 years he opened a door and left it open. We come to celebrate, to bear witness, to honor the Life that was Woodie King Jr.” Leon shared, “Woodie was the first person to let me know I would act, direct and run a theater.” Woodie King’s son, Woodie G. King, thanked everyone for the outpouring of love. He shared, “I called him Pop, he was my confidante, my hero. I’m proud of what he built.”
Pauletta Washington recited the Langston Hughes piece “Note on Commercial Theatre” and reflected:, “Woodie was doing 5-10 shows. He understood that our stories told by us could move an audience.”
Playwright and journalist Kelundra Smith, who wrote “The Wash,” recently produced by the New Federal Theatre, represented the numerous playwrights that Woodie gave opportunities to. She spoke of her gratitude for all that Woodie has always done for Black playwrights.
The program flowed beautifully and touched the heart as people including Ron Himes, founder and producing director of the St. Louis Black Repertory Company, recalled, “Woodie was a connector. He celebrated us with his spirit, his heart. He taught me about Black Theater. In 1994 we established the Woodie Awards. We talked once or twice a week questioning the state of Black theater.” S. Epatha Merkerson recalled working with Woodie at Henry Street Settlement, where he directed her. “He loved us, he loved Black art and he loved the theater.” Ruben Santiago-Hudson also shared his thoughts on Woodie King Jr: “I’m in New York because Woodie got me here. Woodie broke down the doors of American Theater.”
The room was filled with joy and shouts as Carol Maillard and D.K. Dyson beautifully performed “I Found God in Myself.” Actress Denise Burse Fernandez gave a moving recitation of Pearl Cleage’s “One for the Brothers.” Actress LaTanya Richardson Jackson spoke lovingly of this great man. “Woodie opening doors for us to walk through” was a message throughout the moving service. Actress Bianca LaVerne Jones shared that she knew Woodie from the age of seven. He heard her do a monologue of “Lady in Red” from “For colored girls…” “He opened the door and made you think it had your name on it.” D.K. Dyson performed a captivating song, “Everything Must Change.” Actor Denzel Washington spoke of Woodie producing over 400 productions and said, “I remember his smile, his laugh … We love you and we’ll see you.”
Reverend Dwight Andrews delivered an inspiring benediction using words from Howard Thurman. Woodie’s widow Elizabeth Van Dyke was passionate and inspiring as she thanked everyone, including Woodie’s doctors at the hospital, family and friends. She shared a part of her soul and a piece of the deep love that she had for her beloved “Wood” and she was his “Liz.” The entire room was on their feet shouting and applauding as Elizabeth looked up and proclaimed “I got this, Wood!”
Allen and Leon returned to the stage and declared, “He made a place for us and that place is still here.” They asked if all those touched by Woodie would stand up and every single person in that theater — orchestra to balcony levels — rose to their feet and burst into applause. Applause of love, applause of appreciation, applause of greatness that we had all had the opportunity to be touched by.
As we stood all thinking about this incredible man, Leon noted Woodie’s laugh — and a recording of him laughing filled the theater. It was as amazing as he was.
This spiritual blessing was so amazing to experience. When it was over, different repasts were happening to continue to celebrate Woodie. Rome Neal held a Jazzy Thespians Night Tribute To Woodie King Jr,, Voza Rivers and New Heritage Theater held a play reading in Woodie’s honor and the Sugar Bar hosted people that evening with live music, and people sharing their memories and tributes to Woodie.
I had the opportunity to attend the repast at the Sugar Bar and speak with some of those on hand. Before I share those interviews, I want to say how much I loved Woodie King Jr., a man I have known and appreciated for 40 years as a theater critic for the New York Amsterdam News. Woodie loved our people and telling our stories the only way we can tell our stories. He was someone for whom excellence was the norm. I have always looked forward to going to New Federal Theatre productions because Woodie would always share a story about our people that was informative, inspiring and, oftentimes, unknown. He made sure that our stories got out there through Black creatives. And he was one of the most humble men I’ve ever known. I will miss him a great deal, but feel incredibly blessed for having known him.
Speaking with people at the Sugar Bar, I got a lot more love for Woodie. Playwright, actress and director Joyce Sylvester talked about what Woodie King Jr. meant to her career. “I did my first play, ‘Steal Away ’… at the big theater at Henry Street Settlement and I was his producer for the National Black Touring Circuit. He let me see what was going on behind the scenes. I learned how to do grants from Woodie. He came to all of my shows. I’m just so emotional. Beyond that he was a friend. We broke bread together. We laughed together. I called Woodie weekly just to tell him a joke to hear him laugh. Before I could tell him the joke he was laughing. All of his parties, everything. Woodie was a mentor for producing and just a beautiful friend.”
Actor, director, producer, writer, composer Glynn Turman, speaking of his friend of many decades and a man he produced a documentary on “King of Stage: The Woodie King Jr. Story,” shared, “When I think about Woodie, it’s a thought of eras. Woodie spanned six eras, five different generations, so each era was a different thought and a different process. One of my fun eras was the ‘80s when we used to go with Amiri Baraka to the different clubs in town and listen to jazz music, in the winter where the winter was so cold you had to pull up your collar, park six blocks away and then march to a different night spot to hear some good music. It would just be me and Woodie, sometimes Ron Milner with us. Woodie knew everybody. He knew every writer, every play by heart. We’re going to miss him, but we’re not going to miss out because of knowing him. If you knew him and you got what he was putting down you got away with something that instilled an awareness in you when it comes to art, when it comes to Black Theatre, so we’ll miss him, but we won’t miss out.”
Johnnie Mae, veteran actress shared, “Woodie King, just knowing his legacy and how he started everything I was always impressed. When I first got to New York, everybody was talking about Woodie King and the New Federal Theatre. I was drawn to go down there and take classes and workshops. Then he cast me in a show called ‘Aunt Willie Pays A Call,’ written and directed by Shauneille Perry, who’s gone on to glory. Through Shauneille Perry and Woodie King, I got to be in that paradise of theater and everyone loving one another and teaching and growing together. Then Woodie King and Elizabeth were together and I would go to their home and do readings and Elizabeth took to me. I loved myself some Woodie King.
Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, veteran actor speaking of his longtime friend said, “Woodie meant many things to me. We know he’s a wonderful producer and a terrific director, he directed three times in different plays. He was my great friend since I was 18 years old, he was the bigger extra person. When I would come to New York to visit we would make sure we had the time to have breakfast, lunch or dinner and talk about life and the grandkids. It was just so genuine with that guy, it really was real. And he could laugh!”
Roscoe Orman shared his thoughts on Woodie King Jr., “Woodie was unique and humble. He was an incredible man, no matter what was going on he was there. He was the most gracious a human could be.”
Elizabeth Van Dyke is the producing artistic director at New Federal Theater ensuring that Woodie’s work will continue. To learn about New Federal Theatre or to contribute please visit newfederaltheatre.com.
