The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
An award-winning play dealing with race and the law will be presented by George Street playhouse, and will be preceded with a special event in January.
“American Son,” which earned the 2016 Laurents/Hatcher Foundation Award for a new play by an emerging playwright, will be performed at the New Brunswick theater on Feb. 7-26. Written by Christopher Demos-Brown, the emotionally charged play stars George Street favorites John Bolger and Suzzanne Douglas. Mark Junek and Mark Kenneth Smaltz complete the cast.
American Son, had its world premiere at Barrington Stage last summer. Helming George Street Playhouse’s production will be Artistic Director David Saint, celebrating his 20th anniversary at the playhouse.
“I knew the minute I read this play, I had to bring it to George Street,” Saint said in a press release about the play. “This is an extraordinary page-turner and an important, timely play.”
Jamal’s car has been pulled over in the middle of the night. His mother (Douglas) and her estranged husband (Bolger) rush to the police station seeking answers and their son’s whereabouts. With no explanation forthcoming and emotions building, this highly charged drama twists and turns to an explosive conclusion.
George Street Playhouse has also planned additional audience engagement opportunities related to American Son. David Dante Troutt, a professor of law at Rutgers University and author who has written extensively legal and political commentary on race, law and equality, will be the featured speaker during a free event – “American Sons: A Conversation” – to be held at the Playhouse a7 7 p.m. Jan. 19. Those attending performances of American Son are invited to visit the Playhouse Cabaret before or after the show to see a special exhibit depicting our American sons.
Individual tickets, starting at $20, and discount ticket packages are also available. Contact the George Street Playhouse Box Office at 732-246-7717 or visit www.GSPonline.org for tickets and information. George Street Playhouse is located at 9 Livingston Ave.
