All hail the king
- Apr 7
- 2 min read
A look at the production of “King James.”
Written by Jalen Hobson
LeBron James is someone that needs no introduction in our society. The proud Ohio native has a legendary professional career spanning more than two decades. While we most often see him dunking either on TV or in person courtside, as of late we’ve been seeing more of him in other media such as “Space Jam 2: A New Legacy,” as well as the 2023 biopic “Shooting Star.” Another example is the theater production of “King James,” which was put on by Cleveland Play House in the Outcault Theatre at Playhouse Square from March 11-23.
First premiering in 2022, “King James” depicts the lives of Clevelanders Matt and Shawn as they go through life while following James’ career. I’ve had the privilege to attend the show as well as have a pre-show conversation with the playwright, award-winning writer Rajiv Joseph. In our conversation, Joseph described his inspiration behind writing the production and his process, as well as gave an idea of what “King James” is really about.
Conceived from a sketch idea, Joseph knew that “King James” was just going to be about two fans talking about sports, however, it goes much deeper than that.
“Part of Lebron’s appeal and his importance to Cleveland is the passage of time,” Joseph said. “It’s his longevity, his dramatic departures and reentries into our lives.”
He notes that this departure and re-entry was the main focus of the conflict between the two protagonists, as they’re not only arguing about Lebron, but also about their lives. Joseph understands the difficulty young men have when discussing their emotions with one another and how sports can be a bridge for them to connect. “King James” is a show about that connection, not just for these characters, but for men in general.
In addition to “King James,” Joseph has also written works such as “Archduke” and “Mr. Wolf.” His work for film includes writing “Draft Day” and “Army of One.” Joseph is currently working on another project at the moment, but won’t be sharing details until it’s finished.