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One Night in Miami
Before they were icons they were friends
The world would come to know him as Muhammad Ali, but on 25 February 1964, a twenty-two-year-old Cassius Clay celebrated his world heavyweight title not by hitting the town, but in a hotel room with his three closest friends: activist Malcolm X, singer Sam Cooke and American football star Jim Brown. To the outside world, they were American icons. But in that hotel room, here were four men who understood each other and their moment in history in a way that no one else could. With the Civil Rights movement stirring outside, and the melody of A Change is Gonna Come hanging in the air, these men would emerge from that room ready to define a new world.
Kemp Powers's tough talking, in-your-face debut play premiered in LA in 2013 where it won the Ted Schmitt Award for outstanding world premiere of a new play along with three LA Drama Critics Circle Awards, four NAACP Theatre Awards and LA Weekly Theater Awards for playwriting.
This edition was originally published to coincide with the European premiere at London's Donmar Warehouse in 2016 where it received critical acclaim. It was later adapted into a feature film, released in January 2021.
The world would come to know him as Muhammad Ali, but on 25 February 1964, a twenty-two-year-old Cassius Clay celebrated his world heavyweight title not by hitting the town, but in a hotel room with his three closest friends: activist Malcolm X, singer Sam Cooke and American football star Jim Brown. To the outside world, they were American icons. But in that hotel room, here were four men who understood each other and their moment in history in a way that no one else could. With the Civil Rights movement stirring outside, and the melody of A Change is Gonna Come hanging in the air, these men would emerge from that room ready to define a new world.
Kemp Powers's tough talking, in-your-face debut play premiered in LA in 2013 where it won the Ted Schmitt Award for outstanding world premiere of a new play along with three LA Drama Critics Circle Awards, four NAACP Theatre Awards and LA Weekly Theater Awards for playwriting.
This edition was originally published to coincide with the European premiere at London's Donmar Warehouse in 2016 where it received critical acclaim. It was later adapted into a feature film, released in January 2021.
80 pages, Paperback
First published October 17, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 11, 2022
Based on a true story, Cassius Clay, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke and Jim Brown, all hang out the evening after Cassius becomes the heavyweight chanpion of the world. But instead of celebrating and partying, the four black icons instead discuss the civil rights movements and their roles in the struggle of their people. Equal parts humorous and contemplative, One Night in Miami is an expertly written play about the burdens of success and the postive pressure friends can out on each other to take chances and change the game. The film is exceptional, with great acting all around, but its the sharp dialogue written by Powers here that shines, capturing the voice, struggles, and diction of each character so well, it seems effortless. A masterclass in playwriting for sure.
May 5, 2021
enjoyed the conversation between the main characters. made me want to learn more about the characters, particularly at the time this play occurred.
January 15, 2018
I want to see this performed! I came across Powers' play while researching the Hampton House in Miami. Apparently, the Hampton House is an old hotel in Overtown that hosted the who's whose of Black visitors to Miami during (and presumably after) segregation. While Black performers would sell out theaters in Miami Beach, they were invariably forced to retreated to Overtown for the night. And, as such, the Hampton House became the place to see and be seen - not to mention, one of the only places to legally spend the night.
I no longer remember why or how I found the Hampton House (researching civil rights related markers in Miami, I think?), but in doing so I came across photos of Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X talking over the bar. I kept digging to find more, and ended up finding this play. A work of fiction, but based in history, Powers chronicles a single evening at the Hampton, after Ali, then Clay, has just won the heavy weight title.
Cassius Clay, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown (who I previously had not heard of), come together in a meeting organized by Malcolm. Clay has just won the title and is talking to Malcolm about converting to Islam. Simultaneously, Malcolm is struggling with his place in the Nation of Islam, both wanting to practice Islam, but also having troubles with the NOI's leadership. Jim Brown is cognizant that his body is used as a tool to generate ticket sales for sports fans, but also that his power and pride are his and only his. And, Sam Cooke has already made it big, but is looking for ways to try and push the movement to the forefront of his music - as he grapples with trying to make it up not just the Black charts, but the Pop charts as well.
A quick read that I would love to see performed and offers a quick snippet of these four men's lives at a point in American history when arts, culture, politics, and the movement seemed inseparable. Or, perhaps they always are, and are only glorified in retrospect. Either way, greatly enjoyed.
I no longer remember why or how I found the Hampton House (researching civil rights related markers in Miami, I think?), but in doing so I came across photos of Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X talking over the bar. I kept digging to find more, and ended up finding this play. A work of fiction, but based in history, Powers chronicles a single evening at the Hampton, after Ali, then Clay, has just won the heavy weight title.
Cassius Clay, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown (who I previously had not heard of), come together in a meeting organized by Malcolm. Clay has just won the title and is talking to Malcolm about converting to Islam. Simultaneously, Malcolm is struggling with his place in the Nation of Islam, both wanting to practice Islam, but also having troubles with the NOI's leadership. Jim Brown is cognizant that his body is used as a tool to generate ticket sales for sports fans, but also that his power and pride are his and only his. And, Sam Cooke has already made it big, but is looking for ways to try and push the movement to the forefront of his music - as he grapples with trying to make it up not just the Black charts, but the Pop charts as well.
A quick read that I would love to see performed and offers a quick snippet of these four men's lives at a point in American history when arts, culture, politics, and the movement seemed inseparable. Or, perhaps they always are, and are only glorified in retrospect. Either way, greatly enjoyed.
April 22, 2021
Kemp Powers' play "One Night in Miami" can't help but feel like a bunch of speeches giving off exposition strung together. Telling the story of a night where Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, Jim Brown, and Muhammad Ali all got together, this play constantly reminds the audience where these men are in their lives and what they have done up until this point. It's certainly necessary, but I can't help but feel like this play continuously comes back to dropping details about these men's lives that just doesn't feel natural.
That's not to say the conversations these men have when together in a hotel room over one night aren't fascinating. I especially like Malcolm X questioning Sam Cooke on if he's really helping the Black cause as much as he could be, and the arguments made for or against his choices. Like the film, I also find here that Jim Brown sort of gets lost amongst the understandably more famous other three men in this hotel room. Yet I do like how Powers tries to show the importance of these four men, while also making them more human than legends.
For a play that has to stick to one location, and finds smart ways to have these characters in and out of this hotel room in order to allow for more powerful dialogues, "One Night in Miami" is a largely impressive play, but it's still one that feels a bit too stilted and frustratingly beholden to disseminating facts over and over and over again.
That's not to say the conversations these men have when together in a hotel room over one night aren't fascinating. I especially like Malcolm X questioning Sam Cooke on if he's really helping the Black cause as much as he could be, and the arguments made for or against his choices. Like the film, I also find here that Jim Brown sort of gets lost amongst the understandably more famous other three men in this hotel room. Yet I do like how Powers tries to show the importance of these four men, while also making them more human than legends.
For a play that has to stick to one location, and finds smart ways to have these characters in and out of this hotel room in order to allow for more powerful dialogues, "One Night in Miami" is a largely impressive play, but it's still one that feels a bit too stilted and frustratingly beholden to disseminating facts over and over and over again.
April 23, 2021
Note: I want to preface this review with the fact that I do not normally read nor like reading plays or transcripts.
What I loved:
– The Oscar-nominated screenplay adaptation of this play directed by Regina King.
– The anticipated theatre performance that I will be seeing.
What I liked:
– Learning more about the relationship between Muhammad Ali/Cassius Clay, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown.
– The idea that these four men got together in Miami to discuss the most effective way of achieving equality for Black americans, and their own roles in the change that's "gonna come".
What I didn't like:
– Compared to novels, plays miss out on a lot of descriptive details that add color and meat to the story (my preference).
– The made-up dialogue between the men in the hotel room didn't seem organic or factual. I preferred the film because King, with the help of Powers, added context around the conversation through flashbacks and scene-setting that a single scene play could not do.
TLDR: go watch the movie!
What I loved:
– The Oscar-nominated screenplay adaptation of this play directed by Regina King.
– The anticipated theatre performance that I will be seeing.
What I liked:
– Learning more about the relationship between Muhammad Ali/Cassius Clay, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown.
– The idea that these four men got together in Miami to discuss the most effective way of achieving equality for Black americans, and their own roles in the change that's "gonna come".
What I didn't like:
– Compared to novels, plays miss out on a lot of descriptive details that add color and meat to the story (my preference).
– The made-up dialogue between the men in the hotel room didn't seem organic or factual. I preferred the film because King, with the help of Powers, added context around the conversation through flashbacks and scene-setting that a single scene play could not do.
TLDR: go watch the movie!
February 5, 2026
Kemp Powers made these characters feel real. As I was reading about Clay, and his win and him choosing to spend a night with his close friends, I felt what it truly meant to do stuff that matters, like hanging out with people that understand you. Though these men are world famous -- Malcom X, etc -- you get to see a side of them you might not have known. Of friendship and of love between these people. I just really enjoyed this book, but though it was a quick read, I was fascinated by Powers's writing style! Thank you!!
February 14, 2021
Probably more like 3.5 with the caveat that as someone who doesn’t know anything real about these four men, I’m aware that so much is going over my head.
This tightly-written, character-focused play has made me want to go away, learn more about them and then come back with that knowledge.
So that’s what I’m going to do.
This tightly-written, character-focused play has made me want to go away, learn more about them and then come back with that knowledge.
So that’s what I’m going to do.
February 19, 2021
Powerful, much better than the film
Very well written, adult language heavier than I prefer, But a seriously stirring story. I really like the interplay between the characters and the historical significance
Very well written, adult language heavier than I prefer, But a seriously stirring story. I really like the interplay between the characters and the historical significance
Read
February 26, 2021Different and Outstanding
I wanted to read this after seeing the wonderful movie and it was worth it. Movies are different than the source material because of the format and I have to say that you will get a different perspective.
I wanted to read this after seeing the wonderful movie and it was worth it. Movies are different than the source material because of the format and I have to say that you will get a different perspective.
May 3, 2021
Read as part of my oscar challenge (best adapted screenplay). I'm soooo glad I read this one as a play. It was very close to the film translation but it was great to read through it at a slower pace and really appreciate the nuances of the dialogue.
June 17, 2020
An arresting and award winning play by the writer and co-director of Pixar's forthcoming film Soul.
February 7, 2021
3.7/5
Pretty decent play. My fav singer all time, Sam Cooke
My fav boxer/athlete Ali, my idol, Malcom X, and the greatest football player ever, Jim Brown
Nothing more to say
Pretty decent play. My fav singer all time, Sam Cooke
My fav boxer/athlete Ali, my idol, Malcom X, and the greatest football player ever, Jim Brown
Nothing more to say
May 7, 2021
One imagined night set in a hotel room in Miami, meshing the tales of four famous black men at pinnacle points in their lives.
March 1, 2022
I’m mad this play never made it to Broadway!!!! Oh to be a fly on the wall in the hotel.
October 10, 2024
read for class. good
Read
July 21, 2025Super compelling. Powers struck gold.
October 11, 2025
Civil Rights fan fiction...Zzzzzzzzzzz...
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews