Richard Pryor drama plays Chicago this fall

Posted July 28, 2015 5:00 am

"Unspeakable," a play chronicling the rise of seminal comedian Richard Pryor, will play here in October, Broadway in Chicago announced Monday.

James Murray Jackson Jr. stars as Pryor, the Peoria native whose incisive social commentary and unflinching examination of racism made the late comedian one of the country's most influential performers and earned him multiple Grammy Awards and an Emmy. Pryor died in 2005 after battling drug addiction and multiple sclerosis.

Jackson, who originated the role in 2005, cowrote the play with Rod Gailes OBC. Gailes directs the show, which runs Oct. 6 to Nov. 8 at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago.

The show chronicles Pryor's life from 1967 to 1982 and is suitable for ages 16 and older. It is neither "supported, endorsed, created by nor does it emanate from Pryor, his estate or successors," according to Broadway in Chicago's news release.

Group tickets are available by phone at (312) 977-1710. Individual tickets will go on sale at a later date. See BroadwayInChicago.com.

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