Colman Domingo’s Dot Will Begin Off Broadway Premiere

Broadway Black — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 21:40:20 +0000

I can remember when my Grandmother, the absolute love of my life, was diagnosed with dementia as a result of her Alzheimer’s Disease. We were all devastated by the reduction of this great woman. There was a flurry of family meetings to determine what we were going to do about Grandma. Dot, a play by actor, director and playwright Colman Domingo perfectly captures the dark and surprisingly funny- at times- play about dealing with a parent who has dementia.

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.

The post Colman Domingo’s Dot Will Begin Off Broadway Premiere appeared first on Broadway Black.

Gloria By Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Plays Vineyard Theatre

Broadway Black — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 17:47:01 +0000

Obie Award winner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (2014- Appropriate, An Octoroon) will make his Vineyard Theatre mainstage debut with his play, Gloria. This new work explores the lives of a group of young professionals whose day-to-day is dynamically interrupted by a series of surprise events. The cast features Kyle Beltran (In the Heights), Catherine Combs (Regional: Smokefall), Michael Crane (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson), Jennifer Kim (film: The Bourne Legacy), Jeanine Serralles (Verite), and Ryan Spahn (Regional: Tribes); with Evan Cabnet directing.

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins has proven himself as a brilliant young playwright with his plays Neighbors and Wars, as well as the aforementioned works. His desire to examine the complexities of identity and social construct has led to receiving the Princess Grace Award, The Paula Vogel Award, and the Dorothy Streslin Playwriting Fellowship, in addition to the acclaim and respect of the national theater community. This artist and this art is extremely necessary in the current climate because it breaks down long standing walls of division brick by brick while including moments of joy. The importance of this is that it not only heals, it advances society as a whole.

Gloria by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins is running now until July 3rd Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre, 108 East 15th Street New York, NY 10003. For tickets and more information, visit www.vineyardtheatre.org

The post Gloria By Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Plays Vineyard Theatre appeared first on Broadway Black.

Vineyard Theatre Archives - Broadway Black

Colman Domingo’s Dot Will Begin Off Broadway Premiere

Gloria By Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Plays Vineyard Theatre