On December 17, 1957, Nat “King” Cole took the stage for his final NBC variety show. He smiled as he sang songs like “The Party’s Over.” Few knew that behind that smile he carried grief and pain, due to the harsh year-long struggle to find advertisers willing to back his show despite the color of his skin. Written by Colman Domingo and Patricia McGregor, Lights Out pulls audiences into that night and also journeys through Cole’s life, which is set against the current events of the time. Along the way, we hear from others, such as the singer Peggy Lee and Cole’s mother and daughter, all while being immersed in his music, performed by Dulé Hill. McGregor directs. —Jeanne Malle