Bootycandy follows the life of “Sutter” through childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Built as a vignette that clips memories from church, bars, and his family home, the story is tied together by equal parts hilarity and truth. I can guarantee you won’t be bored.. and you will be sitting at the edge of your seat, scene after scene. Matter of fact, I don’t think there’s a word to describe the unpredictability of O’Hara’s work. One minute you’re laughing and the next minute you’re in awe as the plot has taken a new turn for what feels like the fifth time.

My first O’Hara show was Barbecue, which was recently at The Public Theatre. What I learned then was that deliberate undertones and themes shine through after the laughter has faded. Much like Barbecue, Bootycandy explores real issues. On top of giving insight into the double minority life of being Black and gay, it satirizes the plight of a Black playwright, it highlights church life and religion in the context of Black America, and it does so in a refreshingly, in-your-face manner. 

Come to laugh. But most importantly, come ready to leave the theater thinking. Bootycandy is directed by Ovation Award-winner Michael Matthews and Michael A. Shepperd. The cast includes Cooper Daniels, Julanne Hill, Anton Peeples, Michael A. Shepperd and Travina Springer. Previews started October 23; the show officially opened October 29th and will play through December 20th.

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The production of Bootycandy at the Intiman Theatre Festival in Seattle will be the first time the play will not be directed by writer Robert O’Hara — a fact Oyetimein does not take lightly. This play explores one man’s experience of growing up Black and gay in America, a story not often told in mainstream theater. Oyetimein feels, “It’s beyond time for us to start seeing the world through more than just the white gaze. Pushing people out of their comfort zone and forcing them to ‘step into someone else’s shoes’ is necessary and exciting!!” It is this type of commitment to expand the mindset of not only theater audiences, but society as a whole, that is crucial for the growth and healing of this nation.

The second work, Kia Corthron’s Force Continuum, is a somewhat different glimpse into the world of police brutality by focusing on the conflicts of a black cop at a crossroads of identity and allegiance. Oyetimein strongly believes that, “This play is more than just controversial or timely. To me, it is essential…This play was written 15 years ago and monologues from it will have audiences wondering if it was ripped from the headlines this year.” While still in the pre-production phase, it is important to Oyetimein that this play is seen and received as the call to action that it is. This work is a clear artistic representation of the genocidal war waged against Americans of color. Helping to make these type of theatrical pieces is Oyetimein’s battleground.

While it is despicable that this fight is still very necessary, it is good to know that artistic warriors, or “Artivists” as she says, like Malika Oyetimein are dedicated to using their skills to change the world. When asked how she believes the arts, especially theater, can be used in activism, Oyetimein writes, “In this life, we have to seize every opportunity to speak about the things that matter. We have to speak. We must use our voice. My voice is my art.”

Bootycandy by Robert O’Hara and directed by Malika Oyetimein will run September 17- October 3 at the Intiman Theatre Festival in the Cornish Playhouse Studio at Seattle Center. For tickets and more information, visit www.intiman.org

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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.

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The complete cast of Barbecue features 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.

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. Kent Gash directs this new play that proves family can be a bigger vice than any other addiction.

Robert O’Hara  (Playwright). His credits for The Public Theater include his play Insurrection: Holding History; as well as directing Wild With Happy and 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.

Kent Gash (Director). His credits include Langston in Harlem at Urban Stages, which earned the AUDELCO Award for Best Musical; Brokeology at Julliard; Miss Ever’s Boys and Home for the Melting Post Theatre; and Beggar’s Holiday at the York Theatre Company. He received his B.F.A. from the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama and his M.F.A. in Directing from UCLA. He is the Founding Director of NYU Tisch, New Studio on Broadway.

John Earl Jelks was recently seen in Lemon Andersen’s Toast at The Public Theater. His Broadway credits include Holla If Ya Hear Me; August Wilson’s Radio Golf, and August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean. He has performed Off-Broadway in Fetch Clay, Make Man; Sunset Baby; The Break of Noon; Magnolia; and Two Trains Running.

Tamberla Perry  has appeared regionally in Race; In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play; Eclipsed; The North Plan; The Brothers/Sisters Plays; Fedra; The Overwhelming; Bus Stop; Icarus; The Piano Lesson; Black Diamond; among others.

Heather Alicia Simms  has appeared at The Public Theater in The Brothers/Sisters Plays, Part 1 and 2. Her Broadway credits include Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Gem of the Ocean, A Raisin in the Sun, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Her additional Off-Broadway credits include A Beautiful Day in November on the Banks of the Greatest of Great Lakes and Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.

Kenja Kay Thomas has appeared Off-Broadway in Robert O’Hara’s Bootycandy. Her additional theater credits include Insurrection: Holding History; Unspeakable; Pearl’s Gone Blue; Intimate Apparel; Steal Away; The Bow Wow Club; Brave Brood; American Menu; and God, The Crack House & The Devil. She has appeared in film in The Cycle, the Dying Truth, The Warrior Class, and A Gun for Jennifer.

Kim Wayans appeared on television in “In Living Color” from 1990 to 2001. Her numerous additional film and television credits include Pariah; Dance Flick; Talking about Sex; “Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood; A Low Down Dirty Shame; Juwanna Mann; “In the House;” “Waynehead;” “The Wayans Bros;” “Reckless;” “Hawaii Five-O;” and “The Soul Man;” among others.

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. Free tickets to the first preview on Tuesday, September 22 will be available via TodayTix mobile lottery, launching Tuesday, September 15. Winners will be notified by email and push notifications between 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on the day of the first preview. Winners must confirm their winning tickets in the TodayTix app within one hour of being notified.

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