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This weekend, six Michigan theatre companies were supposed to come together to host another unified audition. But what followed was a storm of chaos, as actors asked questions that artistic directors struggled to answer. What resulted was a cancellation of the Michigan General Auditions, leaving many in the community upset and confused.

Woodie King, Jr. (1937-2026) was a pioneering director, producer, writer, and institution-builder whose work permanently created a safe place of Black artists in American theatre. To me, he was my friend, mentor, and surrogate father.

While Dr. King maintained very public friendships with artists like Belafonte and Sidney Poitier, it could be argued that his less visible relationships with more progressive artists like Langston Hughes were equally as impactful.