Alex Haleys Roots
The acclaimed actor who gained fame for playing Chicken George will now take on the role of Stepin Fetchit.

Ben Vereen has been cast in the world premiere of Will Power's 'Fetch Clay, Make Man' play, which will begin performances at Princeton New Jersey's McCarter Theatre Center Jan. 8. 2010. Directed by Des McAnuff, the production will run through Feb. 14.

The cast will be led by Evan Parke as Muhammad Ali and Vereen as Stepin Fetchit – the pioneering black actor legally known as Lincoln Theodore Monroe Andrew Perry, who became famous for perpetuating stereotypical depictions of African Americans in film role during the 1930s and 1940s.

According to production notes for 'Fetch Clay, Make Man,' the storyline centers on the days before Ali became an international icon and the improbable bond he rformed with the former Hollywood star. Set in the mid-1960s, after years of struggle and a series of Civil Rights victories, Fetch Clay, Make Man explores the story of two wildly different men, each struggling to create and shape his image and legacy."
Tony Award nominee John Earl Jelks, Emmy Award nominee Richard Masur and Sonequa Martin also star in the show

Vereen, who won a Tony Award in 1973 for his role in Broadway's 'Pipin,' is best known for his portrayal of Chicken George Moore in the landmark television miniseries 'Roots,' based on Alex Haley's epic memoir about his family history from slavery to America.

"I'm so excited that Mr. Vereen is now officially a part of the production," Power, who is becoming a force to be reckoned with in the theater community, commented on his website. "This one has been a long time coming-over three years in the making and now we're two weeks [from] the first rehearsal-away we go!"