Keith Josef Adkins

Keith is a playwright and a screenwriter. Keith’s Great Migration play, The West End, is scheduled to premiere in 2021 at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. His play, The People Before the Park (about Seneca Village), is scheduled for a 2021 production at his alma-mater the University of Iowa. He was recently commissioned by the Apollo Theater in New York City to help curate their inaugural season at their new Victoria Theater. Keith's other plays include Safe House, Pitbulls, The Final Daze, Sugar and Needles, the Last Saint on Sugar Hill, among others. He's been produced Off-Broadway, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Aurora Theater in Berkeley, among others. He's the recipient of the Helen Merrill Playwriting Award, Samuel French's Award for Impact and...

Keith is a playwright and a screenwriter. Keith’s Great Migration play, The West End, is scheduled to premiere in 2021 at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. His play, The People Before the Park (about Seneca Village), is scheduled for a 2021 production at his alma-mater the University of Iowa. He was recently commissioned by the Apollo Theater in New York City to help curate their inaugural season at their new Victoria Theater. Keith's other plays include Safe House, Pitbulls, The Final Daze, Sugar and Needles, the Last Saint on Sugar Hill, among others. He's been produced Off-Broadway, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Aurora Theater in Berkeley, among others. He's the recipient of the Helen Merrill Playwriting Award, Samuel French's Award for Impact and Activism in the Theater Community as well as National Black Theater's Teer Spirit Award. He is also the artistic director of The New Black Fest, a 10-year-old theater organization committed to fostering insurgent voices from the African Diaspora. His TV credits include P-Valley on Starz, Netflix's Outer Banks, ABC's For The People, The Good Fight on CBS, and he's currently writing a TV pilot for JJ Abrams' Bad Robot and recently sold a limited series with Don Cheadle/Steven Soderbergh for Radicle Act Productions. He's also recently worked on a feature film project with Gamechanger Films/Amazon Studios.

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Scripts

The Underside of Jackfruit and Papaya

by Keith Josef Adkins

Cast Size
2
Genre
drama

The work environment at a tropical fruit distributor proves hazardous when an employee makes accusations of chemical exposure.

The work environment at a tropical fruit distributor proves hazardous when an employee makes accusations of chemical exposure.

The West End

by Keith Josef Adkins

1
Cast Size
5
Genre
drama,
period

At the height of the Great Migration and World War II, a Georgia-born Black woman has been able to find refuge and simplicity in Ohio. But when a young and mysterious Black migrant shows up in her backyard... her quiet life quickly unravels.

At the height of the Great Migration and World War II, a Georgia-born Black woman has been able to find refuge and simplicity in Ohio. But when a young and mysterious Black migrant shows up in her backyard... her quiet life quickly unravels.

The People Before the Park

by Keith Josef Adkins

1
Cast Size
6
Genre
docudrama/historic,
drama,
period,
tragedy

(2022 Revised Draft) 1856. New York City. The people of Seneca Village, African-American and some Irish immigrants, have lived peacefully and away from the corruption of downtown New York City. However, when the City decides to build Central Park their quiet hamlet becomes the target of demolition. One man decides he will not be moved.

(2022 Revised Draft) 1856. New York City. The people of Seneca Village, African-American and some Irish immigrants, have lived peacefully and away from the corruption of downtown New York City. However, when the City decides to build Central Park their quiet hamlet becomes the target of demolition. One man decides he will not be moved.

Pitbulls

by Keith Josef Adkins

Cast Size
5
Genre
dark comedy,
drama

The Ohio River. Near the borders of Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia. Appalachia. A maverick woman and her teenage son live a quiet, natural life in their trailer home, away from their bible-believing, pitbull-loving, violence-prone black Appalachian community. However, when a prize-winning pitbull is murdered on the Fourth of July, her son becomes suspect and she must fight for his innocence and her independence.

The Ohio River. Near the borders of Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia. Appalachia. A maverick woman and her teenage son live a quiet, natural life in their trailer home, away from their bible-believing, pitbull-loving, violence-prone black Appalachian community. However, when a prize-winning pitbull is murdered on the Fourth of July, her son becomes suspect and she must fight for his innocence and her independence.

Safe House

by Keith Josef Adkins

Cast Size
6
Genre
docudrama/historic,
drama

1842. Kentucky. A free family of color works as shoemakers by day and Underground Railroad agents at night, however, their illegal interests come to a halt when the local sheriff discoveries a fugitive under their care. After two years of punishment, another fugitive shows up and they must make the choice of helping or risking their freedom.

1842. Kentucky. A free family of color works as shoemakers by day and Underground Railroad agents at night, however, their illegal interests come to a halt when the local sheriff discoveries a fugitive under their care. After two years of punishment, another fugitive shows up and they must make the choice of helping or risking their freedom.

The Last Saint on Sugar Hill

by Keith Josef Adkins

Cast Size
5
Genre
drama,
political

Harlem, USA. Present-day. A greedy landlord decides to take advantage of the urban renewal and gentrification in his neighborhood. However, his son's passionate commitment to the well-being of the community and its members creates an obstacle he never thought he'd encounter.

Harlem, USA. Present-day. A greedy landlord decides to take advantage of the urban renewal and gentrification in his neighborhood. However, his son's passionate commitment to the well-being of the community and its members creates an obstacle he never thought he'd encounter.

Sugar and Needles

by Keith Josef Adkins

Cast Size
3
Genre
drama

Two recovering substance abusers desperately await their Recovery Graduation, but a surprise visit from an old friend challenges their recovery and their belief in rehabilitation.

Two recovering substance abusers desperately await their Recovery Graduation, but a surprise visit from an old friend challenges their recovery and their belief in rehabilitation.

A Refugee in Detroit

by Keith Josef Adkins

Cast Size
3
Genre
drama,
political

NYC-born siblings flee to Detroit during the pandemic, hoping to kick start their lives and a new vegan eatery. However, a random visit from an Arab-American woman proves their new life has consequences.

NYC-born siblings flee to Detroit during the pandemic, hoping to kick start their lives and a new vegan eatery. However, a random visit from an Arab-American woman proves their new life has consequences.