The play, which had an extended run at Off-Broadway’s Second Stage this summer and featured Karen Pittman (Disgraced), was described as a midsummer surprise.

It is not surprising that Showtime would seek a sports-focused dramedy for its lineup with offerings such as Starz’ LeBron James-produced “Survivor’s Remorse” and HBO’s “Ballers.” Even FOX has a pilot underway with “Fantasy Life” based on the memoir of ESPN’s Matthew Berry.

“King Liz,” which will be adapted by Coppel (who also has written episodes of FX’s “The Bridge” and DirecTV’s “Kingdom), will further take a look into the sports agent world from the perspective of a woman – a Black woman at that.

Sports agent Liz Rico has money and an elite client roster but a woman in a man’s industry has to fight to stay on top. She’s worked twice as hard to get where she is and wants to take over the agency that she’s helped build. Enter Freddie Luna, a high school basketball superstar with a troubled past. If Liz can keep this talented yet volatile young star in line, she just might end up making not only his career, but her own as well. But at what price?

More tackling of isms – with regard to sex, gender, class and age – as well as dialogue on what power and success mean will be brought to the forefront with Coppel’s writing as a foundation.

Coppel’s New York debut was Chimichangas and Zoloft at Atlantic Theater in 2012 – a play published with Samuel French. This year, she received the inaugural Williamstown Theatre Festival New Play Commission. The three-year Lila Acheson Wallace Playwriting Fellow at The Juilliard School has won the Asuncion Queer Latino Festival, the 2012 HOLA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Playwriting and the 2012 Helen Merrill Award.

In April, Second Stage purchased Helen Hayes Theater – one of the last independently owned Broadway houses – in an effort to present more contemporary plays by America’s living playwrights as well as an emphasis on work by women and artists of color. Shows are expected during the 2017-2018 season.

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King Liz is a Second Stage Theatre Uptown production that follows “Liz Rico” (Pittman), a sports agent who faces the obstacles women face in a male-dominated industry. She has money and an elite client roster but she must work twice as hard to stay on top. Rico takes on volatile high basketball phenom “Freddie Luna” as a client and uses the opportunity to lift her career along with his.

Pittman previously starred in Ayad Akhtar’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Disgraced in the role of “Jory,” for which she received critical acclaim for “delivering a powerful and impassioned performance that literally takes the air out of the Lyceum Theatre. “ With a stage presence that has been described as “passionate, witty, glamorous,” Pittman has also appeared on Broadway in Good People and Passing Strange, as well as the off-Broadway production of Domesticated.

In addition to Pittman, the cast includes Jeremie Harris as “Freddie Luna,” Michael Cullen as “Mr. Candy,” Russell G. Jones as “Coach Jones,” Caroline Lagerfelt as “Barbara Flowers” and Irene Sofia Lucio as “Gabby Fuentes.” Lisa Peterson directs King Liz, with scenic design by Dane Laffrey, costumes by Jessica Pabst, lighting design by Tyler Micoleau, and sound design by Darron L West.

For more information and tickets, visit www.2ST.com or call (212) 246-4422.

Photo Credit: Carol Rosegg

The post King Liz Starring Karen Pittman Extended Through August 15 appeared first on Broadway Black.

Karen Pittman, who most recently appeared on Broadway in Disgraced, will star as the lead role, Liz Rico, in the world premiere of Fernanda Coppel’s King Liz.

King Liz follows Liz Rico, a sports agent who, despite money and an elite client roster, must work twice as hard to stay on top in an industry dominated by men.When Freddie Luna (Jeremie Harris), a high school basketball star with a troubled past enters, she seizes the opportunity to skyrocket his career as well as her own.

King Liz also stars Michael Cullen as Mr. Candy, Russell G. Jones as Coach Jones, Caroline Lagerfelt as Barbara Flowers and Irene Sofia Lucio as Gabby Fuentes.

Karen Pittman was in both the Lincoln Center production of Disgraced and the original Broadway run. Other Broadway credits include Good People and Passing Strange.  She also appeared in Bruce Norris’s Domesticated directed by Anna D Shapiro at LCT.  She has a number of TV credits including “House of Cards”, “The Americans”, “The Good Wife”, and “White Collar.” Her film credits include The Bourne Legacy, Last Night, Begin Again and The Rewrite.

The Lisa Peterson directed production will play Uptown at the McGinn/Cazale Theatre (2162 Broadway & 76th St) produced by The Second Stage Theatre beginning July 13 and run through August 8. Opening night is set for July 27.

The production will feature scenic design by Dane Laffrey, costumes by Jessica Pabst, lighting design by Tyler Micoleau and sound design by Darron L West.

Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased here.

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