Public Theatre has recently announced a casting switch: Marc Damon Johnson will replace Tony nominee John Earl Jelks in the world premiere of Barbecue — though no reason has been given for the change. Barbecue was written by Robert O’Hara and directed by Kent Gash. The production begins previews on September 22 and will play a limited engagement through November 1. Opening night is set for October 8.
As previously reported, the cast will also feature Becky Ann Baker, John Earl Jelks, Arden Myrin, Paul Niebanck, Tamberla Perry, Constance Shulman, Heather Alicia Simms, Samantha Soule, Benja Kay Thomas, and Kim Wayans.
Johnson most recently appeared in Lucky Guy alongside Tom Hanks. His additional theater credits include Much Ado About Nothing, The Brother/Sister Plays, Measure for Measure, Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Brothers Size and Mr. Fox: A Rumination. His film and TV credits include: It Runs in The Family, Grace & Glorie, Sweet and Lowdown, Army Wives, Rescue Me and The Sopranos.
The official Barbecue synopsis:
The O’Mallerys have gathered in their local park to share some barbecue and straight talk with their sister Barbara, whose spiral of drugs and recklessness has forced her siblings to stage an open-air intervention. But the event becomes raucous and unpredictable as familial stereotypes collide with hard realities, and racial politics slam up against the stories we tell—and maybe even believe—about who we were and who we become.
Robert O’Hara (Playwright). His credits for The Public Theater include his play Insurrection: Holding History; as well as directing Wild With Happyand The Brother/Sister Plays (Part 2). His recent Off-Broadway and regional credits include Bootycandy (Obie Award) at Playwrights Horizons,In the Continuum (Obie Award) at Primary Stages, Marie Antoinette at Steppenwolf Theater Company, Five Guys Named Moe and The Mountaintop at Arena Theater. He is currently the Mellon Playwright in Residence at Woolly Mammoth Theater.
Member tickets are available now, and single tickets, starting at $50, can be accessed by calling (212) 967-7555, visiting www.publictheater.org, or in person at the Taub Box Office at The Public Theater at 425 Lafayette Street.
We’re so excited for this show and we love the work that O’hara has done previously (especially with Bootycandy) that we’re doing a TICKET GIVEAWAY! Win tickets to a preview of Barbecue on Wednesday Sept 23rd at The Public Theater. This is a special insiders’ event for the world premiere of BARBECUE.
The evening will begin at 6:30 pm with a reception and meet and greet with the playwright and the director (Kent Gash). At 7:30 pm, the performance of BARBECUE begins, featuring Kim Wayans in her New York theatre debut. Afterward, there will be drinks with the cast.
1. Follow @BroadwayBlack on Twitter & Instagram.
2. Like our Facebook Fan Page.
3. Tell us who your favorite Broadway Black star is and what you think they would bring/contribute to a #BwayBlkBarbecue!
4. Make sure to use the hashtag #BwayBlkBarbecue! You can do this on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or comment below! Each platform equals (1) entry. However, you must be following us on all 3 platforms!
The winners will each receive (2) tickets to the Wednesday Sept 23rd performance. We will announce the winners via social media and in the comment section below on Wednesday, Sept 23rd, at 1pm EST.
