Langston Hughes' 'Black Clown' Jumps From The Page To The Stage

A poem is on stage at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge. It's Langston Hughes' "The Black Clown," written in 1931. Hughes, who died in the 1960s, had originally published the piece with director notes, making for an inevitable performance.

Bass baritone Davóne Tines and composer Michael Schachter adapted the poem into this production. Tines is in the role of "The Black Clown."

Jabari Asim, poet/writer and associate professor of creative writing at Emerson College. He tweets @jabariasim.