Celebs Laurence Fishburne, Gina Torres visit Akron to see Langston Fishburne in 'Othello'

Ohio Shakespeare Festival and Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens got some true star power over the last several weeks with visits by movie, TV and Broadway star Laurence Fishburne and primetime TV star Gina Torres .

They were both in Akron to see Langston Fishburne — Laurence's son and Torres' stepson — star as the title character in Ohio Shakespeare Festival's production of the tragedy "Othello" outside near Stan Hywet's lagoon.

"It was pretty cool to be there, see him being a chill parent and not a famous guy, and then sitting in the rain with his umbrella," audience member Kathy Perevosnik posted Tuesday of Laurence Fishburne, who saw his son perform the first half of the show Saturday before it was called off due to heavy rain.

Tragedy 'Othello' draws Langston Fishburne to Ohio Shakespeare's title role in Akron

Director Ansley Valentine had heard Laurence, an Emmy and Tony Award-winning actor, hoped to come see Langston in his Shakespearean stage debut if he could fit it in amid filming season 4 of Netflix's "The Witcher" in the United Kingdom.

On Saturday, Laurence — known as Morpheus in "The Matrix" and Ike Turner in "What's Love Got to Do With It" —surprised his son by showing up in Akron to see him portray Othello live. Laurence himself played the legendary role in the 1995 film.

House manager John Peters met Laurence in the Stan Hywet parking lot and took the celebrity by golf cart to wait near a refreshment stand until the Green Show preceding the tragedy finished. Peters then escorted him to an aisle seat halfway back to watch "Othello," reportedly without causing a stir.

"Almost no one approached him but I got the sense most people who saw him recognized him," Associated Artistic Director Tess Burgler said of the celebrity sighting.

Laurence remained hunkered down in his seat under his umbrella while the show's second act was put on hold. He never got to see his son perform the end of the Shakespearean tragedy.

Costume designer Marty LaConte reported that Langston said he was totally surprised to see his dad in the audience that night. He spent time with his father until about 4 a.m. before Laurence had to return to New York to fly back to London for filming.

In the show's first weekend, actress Torres, her teenage daughter Delilah, and Langston's mother, Hajna Moss, also attended Aug. 3, sitting in the front row. After the show, they all got selfies on stage with Langston. Moss and Torres are Laurence Fishburne's ex-wives.

"When Gina arrived, it was like, oh my gosh, you could see this gorgeous woman just dressed to the nines," LaConte said.

Torres starred as Jessica Pearson in the legal TV drama "Suits" and currently stars on the series "9-1-1: Lone Star."

Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Celebs Laurence Fishburne, Gina Torres visit Akron to see Langston Fishburne in 'Othello'