Woodie King Jr.
Woodie King Jr. is an American director and producer of stage and screen, as well as the founding director of the New Federal Theatre in New York City.
Early life and education
King was born in Baldwin Springs, Alabama. He graduated high school in 1956 in Detroit, Michigan, United States, and worked at the Ford Motor Company there for three years. He then worked for the City of Detroit as a draftsman. He founded the New Federal Theatre in 1970. He earned an M.F.A. at Brooklyn College in 1999.Film and stage direction
King has a long list of credits in film and stage direction and production, including the following:| Stage | Play | Year |
| Alliance Theater | A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry | 1994 |
| American Cabaret Theater | Eyes by Mari Evans | 1995–1996 |
| American Place Theatre | Splendid Mummer | 1987 |
| Arena Stage | ||
| Bermuda International Theatre Festival | Checkmates by Ron Milner | 1995–1996 |
| Billie Holiday Theatre | Good Black Don't Crack | 1993 |
| Broadway | Checkmates | 1988 |
| Brooklyn College | Joe Turner's Come and Gone by August Wilson | 1996–1997 |
| Home by Samm-Art Williams | 1996–1997 | |
| Center Stage of Baltimore | ||
| Cincinnati Playhouse | ||
| Cleveland Play House | ||
| Crossroads Theatre Company | And The World Laughs With You | 1994 |
| Ali | 1998–1999 | |
| Detroit Repertory Theater | Joe Turner's Come and Gone by August Wilson | 1990 |
| The Ensemble Studio Theater | Mudtracks by Regina Taylor | 1994 |
| Ford's Theater | God's Trombone | 1990 |
| GeVa Theatre | A Raisin in the Sun | 1991 |
| The Member of the Wedding | 1992 | |
| Indiana Repertory Company | ||
| Inner City Cultural Center | Checkmates | 1987–1988 |
| Jomandi Theatre | ||
| New Federal Theatre | Checkmates | 1995–1996 |
| by Howard Simon | 2000 | |
| New York Shakespeare Festival | ||
| Northlight Theatre | ||
| Ohio State University | Angels in America | 1998–1999 |
| Pittsburgh Public Theater | - | - |
| SUNY Purchase | - | - |
| St Louis Black Repertory Theatre | Checkmates | 1993 |
| Stage West | ||
| Studio Arena in Buffalo | ||
| Virginia Museum Theatre | ||
| Seminole State College of Florida | The Piano Lesson by August Wilson | 2012 |
Co-produced plays
- For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf by Ntozake Shange
- What the Wine Sellers Buy
- Reggae
- The Taking of Miss Janie, which earned the Drama Critic Circle Award
Awards and recognition
- 1985 Joseph Jefferson Award nomination for Appear and Show Cause
- 1988 NAACP Image Award for directing Checkmates at the Inner City Cultural Center
- 1993 AUDELCO awards for Best Director and Best Play for Robert Johnson: Trick The Devil
- 1997 Obie Award for Sustained Achievement
- 2003 Paul Robeson Award
- 2005 Rosetta LeNoire Award
- 2011 Induction into American Theater Hall of Fame
- 2014 Theatre Legend Award,
Works