Blake Anthony Morris. Photo courtesy of Round House Theatre.
“King James,” written by Rajiv Joseph and directed by Rob Ruggiero, is currently playing at Round House Theatre (Read our review here.) The play is making its regional premiere and features Blake Anthony Morris and Gregory Perri. This heartfelt comedy explores the friendship between two seemingly different men, a Cleveland bartender with Cavaliers tickets he needs to sell, and a writer who has recently published a short story and wants to buy tickets for theCleveland Cavaliers 2003–2004 season, the first season with LeBron James playing. As their team experiences highs and lows, so does their friendship. The production, presented in partnership with TheaterWorks Hartford and Barrington Stage.
Blake Anthony Morris (Shawn) is a Brooklyn-based storyteller from the South Side of Chicago. His off-Broadway credits include Ain’t No Mo’ (Public Theater). Regional credits include King James (George Street); Toni Stone (Huntington); The Hot Wing King (Studio Theatre); 48 Hours in Harlem (The National Black Theater); Byhalia, Mississippi (The Kennedy Center); King Hedley II (Two River Theater); On the Grounds of Belonging (Long Wharf Theatre); and Kings of Harlem (Kelly Strayhorn Theater). TV credits include POSE, Jessica Jones, Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Law & Order: SVU, The Good Fight, FBI, and Blue Bloods. Blake has an MFA in Acting from UC Irvine.
Tell us about your background and when you fell in love with theater and acting.
The nucleus of it all was during my junior year of high school in Illinois, competing in Contest Play. Yvonne Nesbitt, our theater director/mama had cast me as Troy in “Fences.” I was relatively new to the team and some members (including myself) thought she was taking a huge risk. But Nezzy kept saying, “Nope. Blake is my Troy. Blake is my Troy.” And she was right. We ended up winning 1st place in State and everything changed for me then. A seed was definitely planted.
You grew up in Chicago (a great theater town), went to school in California, and landed in New York. What was it about NYC that drew you to settle there?
Moving to NYC was out of the question for me up until I found an agent there. When I did, I began to see just how many ways you can work as an artist in the city. My first couple of years, I did so many staged readings (and still do). Developing the works of new playwrights became a pastime for me and kept my foot in the creative world while auditioning and waiting tables. It’s been so fruitful to my growth as an artist, I feel like I ended up right where I’m supposed to be.
You have also done a lot of TV as well. Which is your favorite media?
TV is so much fun, but I have to say live theater is my favorite medium by far. The process allows you to grow with a role and live in it so much longer. I really value the relationships that we build when making a play, the collaboration from all the moving parts.
Talk about the play, your role, and what makes this production special. What do you want audiences to take away from it?
This role is such a full course meal for any Black actor. I concern myself with a lot of the same things Shawn does: my family, my relationship to being alone, my dreams and wants that keep me up at night. The play does a good job of showing how these two men need each other’s friendship. I hope people can see that they really care about one another and see that a lot of men have deep capacity to show vulnerability. We get to open someone’s blinds and watch them stumble on their way to finding the love they deserve. Human relationships! It’s the most thrilling thing to watch and be a part of.
Are there any upcoming projects for you and a role or roles you would like to tackle in the future?
I’m excited to take “King James” to Barrington Stage Company in August! After that, it’ll be back to the grind, which is fine. This has been a successful year! I would really love to play a boxer at some point. I’m also fascinated with the Black Power movement of the late 60s-70s, and would love to play someone in that time period. Hope the universe hears my wishes!
“King James” runs through June 22, 2025 at Round House Theatre, 4545 East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814. For more information and to purchase tickets, please go online. Masks are required at the following performances: June 17 and June 21 (matinee).
