Ruben Santiago Hudson to Star in CBS’ Drama Pilot “East New York”

Ruben Santiago Hudson is heading East

The 65-year-old half-Puerto Rican actor, playwright and director has been cast as a series regular opposite Amanda Warren in the CBS drama pilot East New York.

Ruben Santiago-Hudson

In East New York, co-written by William Finkelstein and Mike Flynn, Regina Haywood (Warren) is the newly promoted deputy inspector of East New York, an impoverished, working-class neighborhood at the eastern edge of Brooklyn. She leads a diverse group of officers and detectives, some of whom are reluctant to deploy her creative methods of serving and protecting during the midst of social upheaval and the early seeds of gentrification.

Hudson will play Marvin Sandeford, who could have become a boss or a detective, but he never wanted to be anything but a street cop. He’s very opinionated and given to quick, intractable judgments, but not without compassion. No one knows as much about East New York as he does.

Finkelstein and Flynn executive produce with Mike Robin of Skyemac Productions, Christine Holder and Mark Holder of Wonder Street. Andrew Maher of Skyemac is co-executive producing. Warner Bros. Television is the studio.

Hudson is a two-time Tony Award winner and star/writer/director of Lackawanna Blues on Broadway. He also write Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

Ruben Santiago-Hudson’s “Lackawanna Blues” Extends Its Limited Broadway Run by a Week

There are more Blues in Ruben Santiago-Hudson’s future…

The 64-year-old half-Puerto Rican actor, playwright and director’s critically acclaimed Lackawanna Blues is extending its limited Broadway engagement by a week, making up for the recent performances canceled due to the star’s back injury.

Ruben Santiago-Hudson

The solo show, which began previews on September 14 with a planned opening of September 28 bumped to October 7, will continue playing through Sunday, November 7 at Manhattan Theatre Club’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, a week longer than originally scheduled October 31 closing.

Earlier this month, Santiago-Hudson canceled some performances of the show due to a recurring back injury. He resumed performances Oct. 12.

The play stars Santiago-Hudson as the many characters who lived in and around the boarding houses owned by the kind-hearted woman who raised him.

Ruben Santiago-Hudson’s “Lackawanna Blues” to Open on Broadway in September

Ruben Santiago-Hudson is bringing the Blues to The Great White Way this fall…

The 64-year-old half-Puerto Rican actor, playwright and director’s Lackawanna Blues will begin performances at Manhattan Theatre Club on September 14, the first day of Broadway’s post-shutdown reopening.

Ruben Santiago-Hudson

It’s the fifth show set to begin performances post-COVID-19 pandemic.

The play – written, performed and directed by Santiago-Hudson (Netflix’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) – will be the season’s first Broadway production by a nonprofit theater company.

Lackawanna Blues will begin performances Tuesday, September 14, and open Tuesday, September 28, at MTC’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. The play will feature original music by Bill Sims, Jr. performed on stage by blues guitarist Junior Mack.

MTC will follow health and safety guidance of New York City, New York State, and the CDC, with flexible ticket refund and exchange policies in place.

Tickets for Lackawanna Blues go on sale to the general public beginning Tuesday, August 10.

As described by MTC, Lackawanna Blues features a solo performance by Santiago-Hudson in a play “celebrating the strong, big-hearted woman who raised him: Miss Rachel. In a 1950s boarding house outside Buffalo, Nanny, as she was affectionately called, opened her doors to anyone and everyone in need of kindness, hope, compassion, and care.” Santiago-Hudson plays more than 20 characters.