On June 17, New York's Stepping Stone Theatre Company will present the world premiere of "Reflections Of A Heart" at Theatre Row's Clurman Theatre. The new stage play written and directed by Christopher G. Roberts, is based on the true story of Isaac Woodard, Jr., at one time the most highly decorated African-American WWII veteran. Woodard Jr.'s 1946 beating and subsequent blinding by police, hours after being discharged from the US Army, ignited a heated civil rights battle in South Carolina and around the nation. Between the Scottsboro Boys and Rosa Parks, there was Isaac Woodard Jr.

Filled with humor and heartbreak, "Reflections Of A Heart" is set between 1946 and 1951 in the Bronx and South Carolina. Shifting between times, African-American WWII veteran Isaac Woodard, Jr. finds himself under siege by hard-hearted detectives, social injustices, racial prejudices, and his own missing memories. America welcomes back its native son, as a highly decorated war hero, with plans of starting a family. Things go horribly awry when he begins traversing his past and present. The fight for his country is over, as the fight for his life begins.

In February 1946, Sergeant Isaac Woodard, Jr. (1919-1992) was beaten by police in Batesburg, South Carolina, following an innocuous incident on a Greyhound bus. Blinded during the assault, Woodard became the first national symbol in the fight against racial injustice, and garnered support from the likes of President Harry S. Truman, Lena Horne, Harry Belafonte, Orson Welles, and the NAACP.

Although Woodard's story is nearly forgotten today, he inspired folk singer/songwriter Woody Guthrie to write the deeply moving ballad "The Blinding of Isaac Woodard," using some of Mr. Woodard's own words: " It's now you've heard my story, there's one thing I can't see. How you could treat a human like they have treated me?"

This thrilling American story might have been lost, had it not been for a chance meeting between Roberts and the son of Isaac Woodard Jr.

The ensemble cast of "Reflections Of A Heart" includes: Mary Ruth Baggot, Reginald L. Barnes, Gail Merzer Behrens, Chanel Carroll, Mark Ellmore, Gillian Glasco, Kevin Green, Jim Heaphy, Heather Massie, Jonathan Miles, Avery Pearson, Christopher G. Roberts, Robert Spence, David Wirth, and Jerry Zellers.

Previews of "Reflections Of A Heart" began June 11. The official opening for the production is June 17 and the play will run through June 27 at Theatre Row's Clurman Theatre (410 West 42nd Street) on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7pm; Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm; and Sundays at 3pm (with an additional 3pm matinee on Saturday, June 12).

Tickets are $18. For reservations, call Ticket Central at 212-279-4200 or visit www.TicketCentral.com.

ABOUT CHRISTOPHER G. ROBERTS

Christopher G. Roberts is a New York-based actor and director. The author of several one-act plays, "Reflections of A Heart" is his first full-length play. He was the Head Accessibility Consultant for the recent Broadway revival of "The Miracle Worker" and assisted director Israel Hicks on the acclaimed production of August Wilson's "Joe Turner's Come and Gone." As an actor, he has appeared on the HBO series "Oz" and "Sex in the City." Roberts' training began in community based theatres in Brooklyn, New York. Christopher earned his Bachelors of Arts in Theatre from the University of Buffalo.

Roberts attended Brooklyn College to pursue his Masters of Fine Arts in Acting. After several years working as an actor and teacher, in theatres such as Manhattan Theatre Club, McCarter Theatre, Samuel Beckett Theatre, and Henry Street Theatre, Roberts did post-graduate work at The School at Steppenwolf's Acting Program. He is featured along with such artists as Sidney Poitier, Gene Hackman, Laura Linney, Edward Norton, Billy Crudup, and his long time mentor, Tony-nominee Stephen McKinley Henderson ("Fences"), in the groundbreaking book, "Acting Teachers of America: A Vital Tradition."

In 2005, inspired by Steppenwolf and his experiences there, Roberts began SteppingStone Theatre Company (SSTC) -- a theatre company dedicated to the ensemble and the unearthing of new and old stories to tell. He is the Producing Artistic Director of SteppingStone Theatre Company. Built on the efforts of a collective of talented and passionate artists, SSTC seeks to bring an innovative and unique perspective to theatre in the new millennium.

OTHER THEATRE NEWS

Congratulations are in order for Denzel Washington and Viola Davis. Both actors were big winners at the 64th Annual Tony Awards held June 13 at Radio City Music Hall in New York.

Washington and Davis won "Best Actor" and "Best Actress" awards for their roles in August Wilson's critically acclaimed production, "Fences." The production also received a Tony Award for "Best Revival Of A Play."

Also enjoying a big night was the rousing musical, "Memphis," snagging four Tonys, the drama "Red," with six and playwright/choreographer Bill T. Jones received a Tony Award for "Fela!" which won for "Best Choreography."

Here's a look at all the Tony nominees. The winners are in bold.

BEST PLAY
"In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play"
"Next Fall"
"Red"
"Time Stands Still"

BEST MUSICAL
"American Idiot"
"Fela!"
"Memphis"
"Million Dollar Quartet"

BEST BOOK OF MUSICAL
"Everyday Rapture," Dick Scanlan and Sherie Rene Scott
"Fela!," Jim Lewis and Bill T. Jones
"Memphis," Joe DiPietro
"Million Dollar Quartet," Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (MUSIC AND/OR LYRICS) WRITTEN FOR THE THEATRE
"The Addams Family," Music & lyrics: Andrew Lippa
"Enron," Music: Adam Cork; Lyrics: Lucy Prebble
"Fences," Music: Branford Marsalis
"Memphis," Music: David Bryan; Lyrics: Joe DiPietro, David Bryan

BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY
"Fences"
"Lend Me a Tenor"
"The Royal Family"
"A View from the Bridge"

BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL
"Finian's Rainbow"
"La Cage aux Folles"
"A Little Night Music"
"Ragtime"

BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Kelsey Grammer, "La Cage aux Folles"
Sean Hayes, "Promises, Promises"
Douglas Hodge,"La Cage aux Folles"
Chad Kimball, "Memphis"
Sahr Ngaujah, "Fela!"

BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Kate Baldwin, "Finian's Rainbow"
Montego Glover, "Memphis"
Christiane Noll, "Ragtime"
Sherie Rene Scott, "Everyday Rapture"
Catherine Zeta-Jones, "A Little Night Music"

BEST ACTOR IN A PLAY
Jude Law, "Hamlet"
Alfred Molina, "Red"
Liev Schreiber, "A View from the Bridge"
Christopher Walken, "A Behanding in Spokane"
Denzel Washington, "Fences"

BEST ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Viola Davis, "Fences"
Valerie Harper, "Looped"
Linda Lavin, "Collected Stories"
Laura Linney, "Time Stands Still"
Jan Maxwell, "The Royal Family"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY
David Alan Grier, "Race"
Stephen McKinley Henderson, "Fences"
Jon Michael Hill, "Superior Donuts"
Stephen Kunken, "Enron"
Eddie Redmayne, "Red"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Maria Dizzia, "In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play"
Rosemary Harris, "The Royal Family"
Jessica Hecht, "A View from the Bridge"
Scarlett Johansson, "A View from the Bridge"
Jan Maxwell, "Lend Me a Tenor"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Kevin Chamberlin, "The Addams Family"
Robin De Jesus, "La Cage aux Folles"
Christopher Fitzgerald, "Finian's Rainbow"
Levi Kreis, "Million Dollar Quartet"
Bobby Steggert, "Ragtime"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Barbara Cook, "Sondheim on Sondheim"
Katie Finneran, "Promises, Promises"
Angela Landsbury, "A Little Night Music"
Karine Plantadit, "Come Fly Away"
Lillias White, "Fela!"

BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY
Michael Grandage, "Red"
Sheryl Kaller, "Next Fall"
Kenny Leon, "Fences"
Gregory Mosher,"A View from the Bridge"

BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
Christopher Ashley, "Memphis"
Marcia Milgrom Dodge, "Ragtime"
Terry Johnson, "La Cage aux Folles"
Bill T. Jones, "Fela!"

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Rob Ashford, "Promises, Promises"
Bill T. Jones, "Fela!"
Lynne Page, "La Cage aux Folles"
Twyla Tharp, "Come Fly Away"

BEST ORCHESTRATIONS
Jason Carr, "La Cage aux Folles"
Aaron Johnson, "Fela!"
Jonathan Tunick, "Promises, Promises"
Daryl Waters and David Bryan, "Memphis"

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A PLAY
John Lee Beatty, "The Royal Family"
Alexander Dodge, "Present Laughter"
Santo Loquasto, "Fences"
Christopher Oram, "Red"

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Marina Draghici, "Fela!"
Christine Jones, "American Idiot"
Derek McLane, "Ragtime"
Tim Shortall, "La Cage aux Folles"

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A PLAY
Martin Pakledinaz, "Lend Me a Tenor"
Constanza Romero, "Fences"
David Zinn, "In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play"
Catherine Zuber, "The Royal Family"

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Marina Draghici, "Fela!"
Santo Loquasto, "Ragtime"
Paul Tazewell, "Memphis"
Matthew Wright, "La Cage aux Folles"

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A PLAY
Neil Austin, "Hamlet"
Neil Austin, "Red"
Mark Henderson, "Enron"
Brian MacDevitt, "Fences"

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Kevin Adams, "American Idiot"
Donald Holder, "Ragtime"
Nick Richings, "La Cage aux Folles"
Robert Wierzel, "Fela!"

BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A PLAY
Acme Sound Partners, "Fences"
Adam Cork, "Enron"
Adam Cork, "Red"
Scott Lehrer, "A View from the Bridge"

BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Jonathan Deans, "La Cage aux Folles"
Robert Kaplowitz, "Fela!"
Dan Moses Schreier and Gareth Owen, "A Little Night Music"
Dan Moses Schreier, "Sondheim on Sondheim"

SPECIAL TONY AWARD/LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN THEATRE

Alan Ayckbourn and Marian Seldes

REGIONAL THEATRE TONY AWARD

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, Waterford, Conn.

ISABELLE STEVENSON AWARD

David Hyde Pierce

TONY HONORS FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE THEATRE

Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York: B.H. Barry and Tom Viola

Editor's Note: Some information used in this report obtained from publicity department press releases.