Christopher McElroen News

Confronting issues that echoes down the decades, american vicarious resurrects the 1965 Cambridge Union debate between James Baldwin and William F. Buckley Jr at Wilton’s Music Hall.

The stage is immediately set for a confrontation. We the audience are looking down the length of a Victorian dining table, lit from beneath, poised perfectly for domestic rows to erupt before the meal is even served.

A verbatim staging of the 1965 James Baldwin vs William F. Buckley Jr. debate, “Is The American Dream At The Expense Of The American Negro?”, will return to the London stage following UK and US tours.

Starring Wallis Currie-Wood, a new dramatisation of the life of Kate Chase will draw parallels between 19th and 21st century America, and the glass ceiling that's yet to be smashed in American politics.

On 6 January 2021, while the US Congress gathered in Washington DC to confirm Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States of America, a mob waited outside. Demanding that their leader Donald J Trump be returned to power, they stormed the Capitol building to confront the lawmakers.

Stone Nest and the american vicarious will present the world premiere of Fight for America!—a bold, genre-defying hybrid of immersive theatre, tabletop strategy, and political reflection—running Tuesday 10 June through Sunday 6 July at Stone Nest, London. Press night is scheduled for Wednesday 11 June at 7:00 PM.

Ebony Repertory Theatre, in association with the american vicarious (producing director Erica Laird), will present the West Coast premiere of DEBATE: BALDWIN VS. BUCKLEY. Check out photos from the show.

the american vicarious will returns to London's Stone Nest with the world premiere of Fight for America (FFA!), a genre-defying wargaming event that explores the gamification of American politics and the legacy of the Capitol riot. Running Tuesday 10 June to Sunday 6 July at Stone Nest London.

Ebony Repertory Theatre (ERT), in association with the american vicarious (producing director Erica Laird), has announced the West Coast premiere of DEBATE: BALDWIN VS. BUCKLEY.

Following critically acclaimed runs in New York City and London, TimeLine Theatre presents a site-specific, immersive Chicago premiere of the american vicarious’ imagining of the historic debate between James Baldwin and William F. Buckley Jr., on the occasion of the event’s 60th anniversary.

This winter, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of their legendary duel, TimeLine Theatre Company will present the Chicago premiere of the american vicarious’ Debate: Baldwin vs. Buckley, adapted and directed by Christopher McElroen, January 29 - March 2, 2025. See photos from the production.

Next winter, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of their legendary duel, TimeLine Theatre Company will present the Chicago premiere of the american vicarious’ Debate: Baldwin vs. Buckley.

TimeLine Theatre Company's capital campaign has raised nearly $40 million and its general contractor, Bulley & Andrews, has begun construction on the company’s future new home at 5035 N. Broadway, near the corner of Broadway and Argyle, in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood.

TimeLine Theatre has announced 'FareWellington' events to celebrate its history at 615 W. Wellington Avenue as it prepares to move to a new location in Uptown.

The world premiere of OUR AMERICAN QUEEN, a new play by Thomas Klingenstein, directed by Christopher McElroen, will run at The Flea Theater in NY. Opening night is June 14.

TimeLine Theatre Company has announced details for the world premiere of Dhaba on Devon Avenue by Madhuri Shekar, directed by Chay Yew and presented in a co-production with Writers Theatre.

TimeLine Theatre Company has announced a 28th season that offers a scope unprecedented in the company’s history.

DEBATE: BALDWIN VS BUCKLEY returns to the UK with performances at Bristol Old Vic and The Cambridge Union as part of Black History Month. Learn more about the upcoming performances here!

 Following a 5-week run at Stone Nest in London’s West End, the american vicarious's Five-Borough NYC Tour of Debate: Baldwin vs Buckley will conclude with two performances on May 13 at the Bronx River Art Center.

Taut and razor-sharp verbatim adaptation of a famous debate from the 60s is entertaining and enlightening