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Ira Aldridge

This amazing true story of a black American actor from New York City in the 1800s who immigrates to Europe overcomes racism in the Shakespearian theater community and achieves worldwide fame....including becoming the first black man to perform Othello on a London stage.

Early in life, he learned how the impact of theater shaped societal norms. Ira also learned that black actors were not allowed to play major roles in major theaters. His struggles to overcome this lead him to the theater community in Great Britain. There he perseveres through racism to become the most famous actor of his time.

  • Allan Wasserman
    Director
    https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/one_page_resume.cfm?custom_link=115761-925010
  • Merrick McCartha
    Writer
  • Peggy McCartha
    Producer
  • Merrick McCartha
    Key Cast
    "Ira Aldridge"
    This is Us, All American, Lethal Weapon, Criminal Minds, etc
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    19 minutes 45 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 30, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    2,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Allan Wasserman

Allan Wasserman has directed solo artist pieces in the Los Angeles theater community for thirty years and is the creator, producer and director of the Common Ground solo series appearing at numerous theaters. Ira Aldridge is his film directing debut. As a veteran working actor for the past fifty years, Allan appeared as Roger in Suburbicon opposite Matt Damon and directed by George Clooney and produced by The Coen Brothers, and as Adam Sandler’s doctor in Funny People directed by Judd Apatow, and as Matthew Broderick’s psychiatrist in Finding Amanda directed by Peter Tolan. He was in Certifiably Jonathan costarring with Jonathan Winters. Allan’s other film credits include Echo Park Blues which internationally garnered Allan with numerous film festival awards, Big, Little Big League and Cocktail. His numerous television appearances include guest starring and recurring roles in the new series for Apple TV entitled Easy Mark produced by the starring actors Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd. Allan can be seen in the F/X pilot Gone Hollywood, as well as Arrested Development, Castle, Two Broke Girls, Bones, The Office, ER, The Sopranos, Boston Legal, Las Vegas, Sex and the City, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Seinfeld. On stage Allan performed on Broadway in The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel with Al Pacino, directed by David Wheeler, Off-Broadway in Coming Attractions and numerous regional theatre productions for over thirty years. Allan is a member of The Road Theatre Company, Interact Theatre and Rogue Machine all located in Los Angeles. As a writer Allan has published several award-winning short stories including Toughest Cat in the Bronx, Bozza and Finkelstein the Bear. Allan is the alto saxophonist/bandleader of The Allan Wasserman Jazz Ensemble.

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Director Statement

I have always enjoyed conceiving, directing and producing solo artist endeavors. Historic characters has become my new focus. Ira Aldridge represents Black Lives Matter going back almost 200 years ago. While Black people were enslaved , Ira Aldridge, a free man from New York City, traveled the world as an internationally renown, award winning, knighted, classical stage actor. He was a huge star in his time and broke many glass ceilings. Not many know his story. Now, hopefully, we will change that and introduce him to a new generation.