Cassius Clay Takes Center Stage In 'One Night In Miami'

DENVER (CBS4)- The new play One Night in Miami is a relatively new play set the night Cassius Clay won the heavyweight championship of the world. The show remains relevant even though it takes place 50 years ago.

The play centers around the moments after Cassius Clay defeats Sonny Liston in 1964 while four men, Clay, Jim Brown, Sam Cooke and Malcolm X examine their lives, their challenges and the bigotry they face in their chosen fields.

The play picks up where the television cameras turned off that fateful night.

Colby Lewis plays Clay. He calls it terrifying and wonderful at the same time.

"That night, a lot changed," said Lewis. "He said he was great before he knew he was and that's a really inspiring thing. So, that confidence, that self belief..."

Clay, 22, celebrated with his best friends, each an icon in his own right.

Playwright Kemp Powers imagined what the four men talked about. Lewis said it was up to the actors to bring that conversation alive on stage.

"We're bringing a really strong, kind of no holds barred, slice of life, African-American experience to the Denver community," said Lewis.

One Night in Miami is at the Space Theatre of the Denver Performing Arts Complex through April 19. For tickets and information call 303.893.4100 or the denvercenter.org.