Zakes Mokae acting and directing

Mokae remains with Fugard and modern American drama, particularly August Wilson, and moves from acting to directing "I leave acting to the actors. I've been acting for too long".
Tug Yourgrau	The Song of Jacob Zulu 1992-1993
	Tug Yourgrau´s play about South African terrorism, performed in Chicago by the Steppenwolf company and then on Broadway. Mokae played the roles of Rev. Zulu, Mr. X and Itshe in the Steppenwolf production in the Plymouth Theatre Broadway. He received a Tony nomination for his performance. Directed by Eric Simonson. Music was by Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Other members of the ensemble were Robert Breuler, K. Todd Freeman, John Mahoney, Alan Wilder, Pat Bowie, Patrick Clear, David Connelly, Leelai Demoz, Jabulani Dubazana, Deanna Dunagan, Erika L. Heard, Danny Johnson, Gary DeWitt Marshall, Abednego Mazibuko, Albert Mazibuko, Geophrey Mdletshe, Russel Mthembu, Inos Phungula, Ben Shabalala, Jockey Shabalala, Joseph Shabalala, Nicholas Chross Wodtke and Cedric Young. "Yourgrau's play about the making of a black South African terrorist was raw but unforgettable in Eric Simonson's epic staging, brought to Broadway by Chicago's Steppenwolf troupe. K.Todd Freeman glowed in the title role, Zakes Mokae excelled as several elders..." (Time, 3 Jan 1994)
August Wilson	Seven Guitars 1995
	Says John Papageorge "In another strong performance in an exceptional cast, actor Zakes Mokae commands attention with an intense conviction to character when ranting about a mythical man who'll bring him riches, his dream of owning his own plantation and an episode in which he confesses to killing a man who made fun of his birth name". A three and a half hour performance. In the initial performances in Boston Mokae, brought in after last minute cast changes, read the lines on-stage from the script.
August Wilson	Fences 1999
	Mokae directs another August Wilson play about a Negro League baseball player. Mokae says "No, no, I'm more into directing now. I leave acting to the actors. I've been acting for too long. It makes sense for me now to move from acting to directing. It's about sharing ideas when you direct. I like to work with actors. Being an actor myself makes it easy". The cast were Sly Smith, Alexander Mervin, Martha Watson, Leain Vashon, Steven McKenzy, Cameron Miller and AnSherae Devine. "Director Zakes Mokae creates wonderful pacing that carries the viewer through Troy's stumbles and starts. He always remains true to the emotional core of the work, letting the shared emotions communicate the essence of the story, without resorting to theatricality." (Carolyn Wardle in Las Vegas Review-Journal). Mokae recalls that, while he was directing Fences at CCSN, one actor couldn't adapt to his looser style. "He couldn't let go, so I physically had to hold him down," he says. "I told him to try to get up. I was pushing him down, he was pushing me up, then I let go and said, ‘Now say that speech.' He was dead-on. He was holding back, and now he's free. He went to Hollywood and got a job." (Steve Bornfeld, Las Vegas Weekly, 28 June 2005).
Bryan Harnetiaux	National Pastimes 2002
	Mokae directing Bryan Harnetiaux´s play National Pastimes. It is about the life and times of Jackie Robinson, the first black American to play professional baseball. The cast includes Martha Watson, Jim Williams and Sly Smith. Alex Mervin plays Robinson. Mokae is quoted by Ken White: "It has something to say.. It's about a guy who achieved what he wanted to achieve. For me, apart from the politics, it was interesting because baseball people really get involved in the sport."
Athol Fugard	The Road to Mecca 2003
	Zakes Mokae directing The Road to Mecca in March 2003 at the BlackBox Theatre, UNLV. The actors are Ray Favero, Charlene Sher and Jeanmarie Simpson. Photo by Christine H. Wetzel from reviewjournal.