Dot, which has been called a “testament to the enduring bonds of family,” tells the story of “Dotty,” a family matriarch who’s dealing with dementia and squabbling children during the holidays. The play features a stellar cast including Marjorie Johnson who originated the title role when the production premiered at the Humana Festival of New American Plays in Louisville, Ky. Johnson’s stage credits include The Little Foxes on Broadway and Hoodoo Love, M: The Mandela Saga, The House of Bernarda Alba off-Broadway. She’s also appeared on the big screen in American Gangster, Boiler Room, Life Breath, Hill and Gully, and Fleecing Led Zeppelin.

Sharon Washington, Stephen Conrad Moore, Libya V. Pugh, Colin Hanlon, Michael Rosen, and Finnerty Steeves join Johnson in the New York production. Susan Stroman, who won a Tony Award for The Producers, will direct Dot.

This isn’t Domingo’s first foray into playwriting. The Tony-nominated actor also penned a one-man autobiographical play A Boy and His Soul, for which he won a GLAAD Award: Outstanding New York Theater: Broadway & Off–Broadway. He also wrote and starred in Wild with Happy.

Dot is scheduled to run through April 3, 2016 at the Vineyard Theatre. For tickets and more information visit vineyardtheatre.org.

Featured photo by Carol Rosegg

So nice to share opening night with my Selmafam. @vineyardtheatre pic.twitter.com/YJqzTD9APB

— Colman Domingo (@colmandomingo) February 22, 2016

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In the Shealy family home just a few days before Christmas, Dotty and her three middle-aged children gather with so much more than the holidays on their minds. Their anxieties go far beyond finding a suitable blue spruce for the living room: this wild and moving dark comedy, served with a large helping of the crackling humor that only families can incite, grapples with aging parents, midlife crises, and the heart of an inner city neighborhood.

Dot touches the spirit in a way that’s gut wrenching and glorious; it hits you in the heart while it hurts right down to your funny bone. It’s no surprise that Dot is so good. Domingo has made a career out of being great at what he does garnering Olivier, Tony, Drama Desk, and Drama League Award nominations and an OBIE and Lucille Lortel Award. Currently the diverse entertainer is also starring in AMC’s ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ ( a winning television show franchise that also boasts Danai Gurira (Michonne, ‘The Walking Dead’ and writer of the amazing play Eclipsed starring Lupita Nyong’o).

Dot is directed by five time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman, who is returning to The Vineyard Theatre after her masterful work directing and choreographing The Scottsboro Boys a musical in which  Domingo was also a member of the cast  receiving a Tony nomination for his performance.  Dot  premieres Off Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre February 3rd through March 20th 2016.

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As we previously reported, Uggams was scheduled to play the family matriarch who’s dealing with dementia and squabbling children during the holidays. However, she opted to join the cast of the smash hit Fox network drama, “Empire,” in a recurring role instead.

In the Vineyard Theatre’s production, Johnson will be joined by Stephen Conrad Moore and Sharon Washington.

Johnson’s stage credits include The Little Foxes on Broadway, and Hoodoo Love, M: The Mandela Saga, and The House of Bernarda Alba off-Broadway. She’s also appeared on the big screen in “American Gangster,” “Boiler Room,” “Life Breath,” “Hill and Gully,” and “Fleecing Led Zeppelin.” Johnson has received a Best Actress Audelco Award for her portrayal of “Winnie Mandela” in M: The Mandela Saga, a Best Supporting Actress Audelco Award for “The Candy Lady” in Hoodoo Love, and a Philadelphia Critics Award Nomination for “Mrs. Antrobus” in The Skin of Our Teeth.

Dot, which has been called a “testament to the enduring bonds of family,” isn’t Domingo’s first foray into playwriting. The Tony-nominated actor also penned a one-man autobiographical play A Boy and His Soul, for which he won a GLAAD Award: Outstanding New York Theater: Broadway & Off–Broadway. He also wrote and starred in Wild with Happy.

Susan Stroman, who won a Tony Award for The Producers, will direct Dot. The play premiered in the Humana Festival of New American Plays in Louisville, Ky., earlier this year.

Dot is will begin previews on February 4 with an official opening on February 23 at the Vineyard Theatre. The play is scheduled to run through April 3, 2016. For tickets and more information visit vineyardtheatre.org.

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With his newest play, DOT, he is tackling Dementia through a comic lens. The play is coming to The Vineyard Theatre in New York City after a successful run at the 39th Annual Humana Festival of New American Plays at the Actors Theatre of Louisville in Kentucky. The NY cast has yet to be announced but this production will be at the helm of multi Tony Award winning director Susan Stroman, who directed Colman in Scottsboro Boys. Sounds like a match made in heaven. The sad part is we have to wait until 2016. DOT is slated for the 2015-2016 season and will open in the winter of 2016. In the meantime in between time, enjoy a snippet from the show in Louisville.

Family matriarch Dotty and her three adult children gather for the holidays with more than exchanging presents on their minds. As Dotty struggles to navigate life with dementia, her children fight to balance care for their mother and care for themselves. A testament to the enduring bonds of family, this hilarious and moving new play grapples unforgettably with aging parents, midlife crises, and the heart of an inner city neighborhood.

*** Photo Credit: Sharon Washington, Kevin R. Free “Dot” by Colman Domingo at Actors Theatre of Louisville’s 2015 Humana Festival of New American Plays. (Photo by Bill Brymer)

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