Exclusive: Corey Hawkins and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II talk Broadway revival Topdog/Underdog
Currently in previews on Broadway is the 20th Anniversary Production of Suzan-Lori Parks Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece Topdog/Underdog, directed by Tony Award-winner Kenny Leon and starring Tony Award-nominee Corey Hawkins (In the Heights, The Tragedy of Macbeth) and Emmy Award-winner Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Watchmen, Candyman) as brothers Lincoln and Booth.
Topdo/Underdog is a darkly comic fable of brotherly love and family identity, tells the story of two brothers, Lincoln (Hawkins) and Booth (Abdul-Mateen II), names given to them as a joke by their father. Haunted by the past and their obsession with the street con game, three-card monte, the brothers come to learn the true nature of their history.
For Hawkins, this is his second trip on Broadway in the last five years. He was a Tony nominee for his 2017 performance in John Guare’s Six Degrees of Separation, and made his Broadway debut as Tybalt in David Leveaux’s revival of Romeo and Juliet opposite Orlando Bloom and Condola Rashad. He recently portrayed Macduff in Joel Coen’s The Tragedy of Macbeth, opposite Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand, and Brendan Gleeson, and also starred as Benny in Jon M. Chu’s feature film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award-winning musical In The Heights. Other film credits include Straight Outta Compton, Georgetown, BlacKkKlansman and 6 Underground.
Abdul-Mateen II, who is making his debut on Broadway, is best known for his Emmy-winning performance as Cal Abar/Dr. Manhattan in HBO’s Watchmen. He recently starred in Michael Bay‘s Ambulance, opposite Jake Gyllenhaal; The Matrix Resurrections; and Candyman. Next up he will be reprising his role as Black Manta in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
Blackfilmandtv.com’s Wilson Morales spoke with both actors regarding their decisions to doing the production.