Common has made his Broadway debut in the show Between Riverside and Crazy, which opened in New York City on Monday (December 19).
Between Riverside and Crazy follows an ex-cop and his paroled son as they try to keep ownership of their rent-controlled apartment in the Upper West Side. Common stars as the son Junior.
AD LOADING...
“It’s been inspiring. It’s been a lot of fun it’s been really hard work it’s been one of those things where I always loved theater and dreamed being a part of theater,” Common told local New York outlet Pix 11.
He added, “What I love about Junior is that he’s not just one-dimensional. He really has a lot to him but a lot of people could look at this person the way we do like, ‘Ok this dude was locked up, he was on dope, he ain’t gonna never be nothing,’ but that’s not who Junior is.”
When it was initially announced that Common would play the role of Junior back in September, he echoed these sentiments on Instagram and said this opportunity had been a dream for years.
“This has been a dream of mine for a very long time to act in a play, to do theater, and to be a part of a theater company,” Common shared on Instagram. “I am supremely grateful and overwhelmingly inspired to be a part of Between Riverside and Crazy. I can’t wait to begin this process and to live this journey.”
He added: “When I got this role, I called my mother like I had gotten my first record contract. Haha! It was that much joy.”
This role will now make Common eligible for EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) status. In 2015, Common and John Legend won a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Glory” from the 2014 film Selma.
He also won an Emmy Award in 2016 for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for “Letter To The Free,” which he contributed to Ava DuVernay documentary 13th. As a result, Common became the first rapper in history to win an Emmy, Grammy and Oscar.
AD LOADING...
In other Common news, the polymath penned a heartfelt op-ed for Variety earlier this month, showing support for the American Music Fairness Act, which would compensate artists fairly for radio play. He was also honored with Tribeca Festival’s second annual Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award in June. Robert De Niro presented him the award, and showered Common in praise.
“As an artist, Common continues to entertain us, and as an activist, he continues to lead in so many areas,” De Niro said, before adding at the end, “Common — despite his modest name — has achieved great feats.”
