The Man Who Would Be King: DreamWorks has Antonio D. Charity's acting reel; now will they give him an audition?

The dream of actor Antonio D. Charity to portray Martin Luther King Jr. on film is now in the hands of Steven Spielberg, Suzanne de Passe and Madison Jones.

The young, veteran actor, who has portrayed the Rev. Dr. King in numerous productions dating back to high school, has sent his acting reel and resume to DreamWorks SKG, Spielberg's company that is developing and producing the biopic.


And is it such a wild idea to cast a relative unknown in such a high-profile role?

Not at all, as evidenced by recent news that David Oyelowo, a British actior unknown here, has been signed to play Dr. King in Lee Daniels' film, Selma. This picture will track the 1965 civil rights marches from Selma to Montgomery, and in true Hollywood tradition, focus on a white guy-- in this case Hugh Jackman as a racist sheriff.

We have detailed the grassroots movement to give Antonio D. Charity an audition for the role of his dreams.

It's now up to Steven Spielberg and his fellow producers to do the right thing.

Antonio can now be seen Off-Broadway in the production of Black Angels Over Tuskegee, which received rave reviews and whose run has been extended through May at the St. Luke's Theatre in midtown Manhattan.

Kingmaker? New rave for Antonio D. Charity

Add the influential NYTheatre.com to the tastemakers giving rave reviews to Antonio D. Charity, the young, veteran TV, movie and stage actor who wants a chance to portray Martin Luther King on film, and the ensemble cast of Black Angels Over Tuskegee.

Black Angels is the new play about trailblazing African-American World War II fighter pilots that opened days ago Off Broadway.

NY Theatre's Ivana Cullinan writes:

"Black Angels Over Tuskegee is a deeply wonderful production that takes an important historical event, presents it in a very intimate manner, and demands a personal response to its characters... The sheer depth and emotional power of this cast creates an authentically fulfilling and glorious night of theatre that honors an impressive group of men, the Tuskegee Airmen.

"...The narrator... a father talking to his son; as the character, Antonio Charity does some fine story work throughout..."

The play, and Charity, made international news when The New York Times praised the play, concluding: "By the end, when the pilots overcame their obstacles and finally got up into the air to the swelling of music, tears welled up in my eyes ..."

An Associated Press review raved that "this powerful play... is well-staged and the characters so realistic that the audience can't help but be thoroughly moved by the time the narrator reaches the end of the journal."

Hundreds of people have joined the Facebook group, "Antonio D. Charity should play Martin Luther King in DreamWorks' biopic," in support of Charitys quest to get an audition for the lead role int he film being produced by Steven Spielberg, Suzanne dePasse and Madison Jones.

“Black Angels Over Tuskegee” is playing at St. Luke’s Theater, 308 West 46th Street, Clinton; (212) 239-6200, www.telecharge.com.