.Why have most of us never heard of Ira Aldridge (1807-1867) , America’s first internationally acclaimed African American actor? UW Theatre professor Baron Kelly links his own journey as a Black actor to that of the remarkable Ira Aldridge. NOTE--Next week Baron Kelly will return to University of the Air for a special broadcast of Richard Hellesen's play Necessary Sacrifices, inspired by Frederick Douglass' conversations with Abraham Lincoln. The broadcast will begin slightly earlier than usual, at 4 pm sharp.