Jacob Ming-Trent’s solo play, "How Shakespeare Saved My Life," chronicles the transformative role that Shakespeare’s works have played throughout his challenging upbringing and early career. The production, currently staged at the Public Theater in Manhattan through October 25, draws extensively on Ming-Trent’s personal history, blending autobiographical elements with theatrical storytelling.

The play begins with a pivotal moment in Ming-Trent’s childhood in 1992, when at age 12 he accidentally enters a Shakespeare class instead of math. This serendipitous encounter introduced him to the playwright—whom Ming-Trent reverently refers to as “the royal rhymer”—and would come to serve as a guiding influence amid significant family and social turmoil. Living in Pittsburgh, Ming-Trent faced an unstable home environment: his mother had expelled his drug-addicted father, and later forced Ming-Trent himself out of the house at 16. These hardships were compounded by experiences of homelessness and the search for belonging.

Drawing heavily on these real-life struggles—he estimates 95 percent of the play is based on true events—Ming-Trent depicts his teenage years, including a move to New York at 17. There, he becomes involved with a group of marginalized peers, enduring both camaraderie and violence as they navigate a hostile world. Despite setbacks, including rejection in acting school marked by racially charged and body-shaming critiques, Ming-Trent persists in pursuing his passion for Shakespearean performance.

“How Shakespeare Saved My Life” is structured as a coming-of-age narrative infused with elements reminiscent of a picaresque fable. Ming-Trent’s performance combines his skills as a rapper and preacher, engaging the audience in a call-and-response style that reflects the zeal of a church service. His portrayal highlights connections between Shakespeare’s themes and figures from contemporary culture, including hip-hop icons Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur. The production incorporates projections designed by Alexander V. Nichols, complementing Tony Taccone’s direction to create a dynamic theatrical experience.

While some of Ming-Trent’s character impressions are broad caricatures, the play’s strength lies in its candid exploration of identity, resilience, and artistic discovery. Ming-Trent recounts confronting prejudiced attitudes within the theater world, notably a teacher’s dismissive comment that he “sounds... Black” and “fat,” which did not deter him from continuing to pursue Shakespeare. He demonstrates this determination by performing Hamlet’s soliloquy first in an imitation of Ian McKellen and then with his own distinct interpretation.

Toward its conclusion, the production hints at themes of forgiveness, particularly regarding Ming-Trent’s complicated relationship with his mother, whom he once likened to Shakespeare’s Iago. Although the play stops short of detailing his professional breakthroughs, the narrative underscores that surviving hardship is only the beginning of a longer journey.

“How Shakespeare Saved My Life” runs approximately 90 minutes and remains a testimonial to the enduring power of classical literature to provide solace and strength amid adversity.