De Shields will be joined by castmates Forrest McClendon (The Scottsboro Boys), Gillian Glasco (New Federal Theatre's Knock Me a Kiss), Sean Phillips (Knock Me a Kiss), Alexander Elisa (Classical Theatre of Harlem's Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death) and Roenia Thompson (Blues in the Night tour).  

The reading will be presented by the Negro Ensemble Company.

The Soveriegn State of Boogedy Boogedy was previously produced at the New Federal Theatre and Chicago's Victory Gardens Theatre. Carter's works also include The Lost Boys of Sudan and the Obie Award-winning The Romance of Magno Rubio.

De Shields, a Tony Award nominee for The Full Monty and Play On!, received an Obie Award for Sustained Excellence in Performance, as well as the National Black Theatre Living Legend Award. Also known for his Broadway appearances in Ain't Misbehavin' and The Wiz, he is currently appearing in the Red Bull Theatre production of The Witch of Edmonton.

To describe the play, NEC asks theatregoers to "imagine an episode of 'Law & Dis-Order SV EWWWW!' Double lippin’ and entenDRÉ flippin’ with Flavor Flav, Judge Judy, Angela Davis and the Mad Hatter!" The June Havoc Theatre is located at 312 West 36th Street, Second Floor. Tickets are $10 and are available by calling (212) 582-5860.