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By Anslem Samuel | Published May 10, 2012 | Full size is 620 × 480 pixels

KING OF THE STAGE In 2011, Jackson went back to his theatre roots by stepping into the shoes of Civil Rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. in a limited engagement of the hit Broadway play, The Mountaintop. The drama, which also starred Oscar nominee Angela Bassett, focuses on a string of fictional events that take place in a motel room the night before King was assassinated. Thanks to Jackson’s movie star drawing power and lauded performance (The New Yorker called his work “admirable, compelling”), the show played to sold out houses, extended its engagement by popular demand, and grossed over $10 million. In fact, with only 24 previews and 117 regular performances, the show managed to recoup its initial investment of $3.1 million, a rare accomplishment for a non-musical Broadway show.

KING OF THE STAGE

In 2011, Jackson went back to his theatre roots by stepping into…

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