The two leading figures of the American Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, never had a chance to have much of a conversation.

But through the magic of theater, Jeff Stetson’s drama “The Meeting” lets us imagine how such a conversation may have transpired.

“There are pictures of them shaking hands together,” said Donald Sherman, artistic director of the Cincinnati Black Theatre Company. “They never sat down and had a meeting, but this show explores what might have happened if they did.”

The Cincinnati Black Theatre Company produced “The Meeting” several years ago and is now reprising it in celebration of Martin Luther King’s birthday.

“It’s a classic that could really stand up to an annual production,” Sherman said. “You get an opportunity to see sides of the men that you never knew, not just as leaders but as fathers and preachers.”

In the play, “they find they have a lot in common, although their methods were different, but you get to see that they cared about everyone. They had fun. They both did things with their kids.”

For one thing, both men had taken a pilgrimage to Mecca, and both trips influenced each man’s philosophy and practices.

“The playwright used historical materials, took things from both of their speeches and wove it into the dialog of the play,” Sherman said.

“There’s some light-heartedness to it as well,” Sherman said. “They both had a funny side, but also parts of this play is really intense. It will keep you on the edge of your seats, but the intelligence of both men comes through.”

“By the end, X softened up and King’s views began to change on different issues,” Sherman said.

how to go
THE NAME: Cincinnati Black Theatre Company presents “The Meeting” by Jeff Stetson.
THE LOCATION: Cincinnati Art Museum, Eden Park, Cincinnati.
THE HOURS: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12-13.
THE TAB: $20.
THE PHONE: (513) 241-6060; cincyblacktheatre.com.

A version of this story ran in the Go! section of the JournalNews, Hamilton, Ohio.