Zakes Mokae theatre in America

Mokae moved to America and continued his theatre success, both with revivals of Blood Knot (as the play was retitled from The Blood Knot, after a rewrite by Fugard to bring it to a manageable length) and modern American plays.
Wole Soyinka	The Trials of Brother Jero 1966
	Mokae played Jeroboam in a production by Athol Fugard at The Round House in South Africa and Inglewood Playhouse in California. The Times (17 June 1966) says "... a satirical comedy, featuring a cunning prophet (played by Zaikes Mokae) whose brand of Christianity works to his own advantage". Note the misspelling of Zakes.
Athol Fugard	Blood Knot 1971
	Another revival of Blood Knot. Photo of Mokae in Blood Knot from Theatre Winter 1982.
Athol Fugard	Boesman and Lena 1970 and 1971
	Mary Benson in Bare Stage quotes Fugard "I've dredged up a trio of real derelicts this time. I'm called Boesman, the woman is Lena and the third character is something of an indeterminate verminous and dying age called Outa". Benson says she realised the play, from 1969, had its roots in Fugard´s relationship with his wife Sheila. Mokae was not in the South African premiere, but in the NY version in 1970 directed by John Berry with the minor role of Outa, playing alongside James Earl Jones. When the play transferred to the Royal Court in London on 19 Aug 1971 Mokae took over the lead role of Boesman.
Eugene O'Neill	The Emperor Jones 1971
	James Earl Jones has the lead role of an emperor of the Caribbean and his downfall. Mokae plays Lem. The play is almost a monologue for James Earl Jones, who is excellent in the role, resonating like Orson Welles. Mokae´s role is in Act VIII with slight dialogue. Stefan Gierasch and Osceola Archer also appear. Directed by Theodore Mann. James Earl Jones Click here to listen to the play with James Earl Jones and Zakes Mokae
Ronald Ribman	Fingernails Blue as Flowers 1971-72
	Mokae as the waiter alongside Albert Paulsen, Pamela Shaw, Larry Block and Karli Dwyer. Martin Fried directed at The American Place. The play is by Ronald Ribman.
Lorraine Hansberry	A Raisin in the Sun 1972
	Hansberry´s play of a black American family who receive $10,000, but each member has other ideas on what to do with the money. Mokae plays Joseph Asagai, the African who questions why the black women straighten their hair and reject their heritage. There is an audio cassette available of the performance. Mokae´s voice is of course superb.
Anton Chekhov	The Cherry Orchard 1973
	Produced as part of the NY Shakespeare Festival at Public Theatre. Mokae plays the old servant Firs.
Ronald Tavel	The Last Days of British Honduras 1974
	Produced as part of the NY Shakespeare Festival at The American Place.
Evan Blake	Mid-Century Blues 1977
	A one-act play that take audience members back to a time when the Blues and Big Band comforted a nation at war. Zakes Mokae directed, at the Winchester Centre.