Written by
Nambi E. Kelley, Based on the novel by Richard Wright
Directed by
Seret Scott
The Acting Company's 2018/19 summer repertory will feature two productions presented in rotating repertory by a single ensemble. These two plays, one contemporary and one classical, are paired to allow artist and audience to draw insights about the present as we investigate our past.
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"Native Son is a gutsy, powerful piece of theater." Chicago Tribune
"As profound as it is disturbing, Kelley's adaptation leaves no daylight between Bigger Thomas and the society that shapes him." Los Angeles Times
In the South Side Chicago of the 1930s, Bigger Thomas struggles to create a place for himself in a world whose prejudice has left him with few opportunities. After taking a job in a wealthy white man's house, he unwittingly unleashes a series of events that violently and irrevocably seal his fate. Manifesting Bigger's double consciousness through the character of the Black Rat, Kelley reclaims Richard Wright's groundbreaking story for a twenty-first century audience.
The Duke on 42nd Street
July 17 - August 24
Runs in rotating repertory with Measure for Measure
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Anthony Bowden
The Acting Company: Native Son, Measure for Measure. Regional: Northern Stage, Long Wharf, Signature Theatre, The Drury Lane. Anthony has worked with The Educational Theatre of New York and is a founding member of artES, an arts outreach program in El Salvador. He graduated from Juilliard in May and is the recipient of the 2019 John Houseman Prize.
Jason Bowen
The Acting Company: Native Son, Measure for Measure. Broadway: The Play That Goes Wrong. Off-Broadway: If Pretty Hurts (Playwrights Horizons), Alternating Currents (Working Theater), My Mañana Comes (Playwright's Realm). Regional: Native Son (Yale Rep), Skeleton Crew (Studio Theatre), Jazz (Baltimore Center Stage), As You Like It, Black Odyssey (Denver Center), June Moon (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Ruined (La Jolla Playhouse, Huntington Theatre, Berkeley Rep.), A Raisin In The Sun, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (IRNE Award for Best Actor- Drama; Huntington Theatre Co.), TV: “Blue Bloods”, "Madam Secretary", "Elementary", "Braindead”, “Law & Order: SVU". Film: The Upside, What's Your Number?
Rebekah Brockman
The Acting Company: Native Son, Measure for Measure. Off-Broadway: A Taste of Honey (Pearl); The Burial at Thebes (Irish Rep). Regional: Vanity Fair (STC/ACT); Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing (Signature Theatre); The Liar (Westport Country Playhouse); Arcadia (Yale Rep); Our Town (Actors Theater of Louisville); Arcadia, Dead Metaphor (world premiere); A Christmas Carol, Elektra; Happy To Stand (American Conservatory Theater); Romeo and Juliet, Blithe Spirit (California Shakespeare Theater); The Children (The Gift Theatre); Winter’s Tale, Comedy of Errors (Kingsmen Shakespeare) Film: Bridge Of Spies, The Chaperone. Television: "Divorce," “The Knick,” "The Mysteries of Laura," “The Slap,” “Jessica Jones,” Additional Credits: Rince na Tiarna School of Irish Dance; MFA, American Conservatory Theater (Sadler Award); CT Critics Circle Award-Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play. www.rebekahbrockman.com
Rosalyn Coleman
The Acting Company: Native Son. Recent Theatre: Travesties on Broadway. Off-Broadway: School Girls, or The African Mean Girls Play. Film/TV: Miss Virginia, “Jessica Jones,” “Bull,” “Ctrl Alt Delete: An Abortion Comedy.” Director: Roe Versus Wade Play. Next: Hanging By A Thread film, written by husband and partner Craig T Williams. Educator - NYU, SUNY Purchase, Atlantic Theater School. Voted Favorite On-Camera Acting Coach two years in a row. Mother to a hopeful prince. Thankful. IG: @irozapp
Laura Gragtmans
The Acting Company: Native Son, Measure for Measure, Othello. Laura is an actress, composer, and writer from Ontario and the Carolinas. Most recently she performed at the Amsterdam Fringe Festival, NYC's Prototype Festival, and in The Acting Company's Othello. Laura is also a Shakespeare lover, clown, nature enthusiast, teacher, and proud member of The Actor's Center. She currently teaches at Montclair State University. MFA: Yale School of Drama. BS: University of Evansville.
Lorenzo Jackson
The Acting Company: Native Son, Measure for Measure. Born in Brooklyn, raised in Jersey, Lorenzo is thrilled to join the Acting Company. A recent graduate of the Juilliard school he is excited to embark on the journey and make his mark on the world. He would like to thank the Stella Adler Studio for giving him a foundation and Juilliard for giving him his wings.
Henry Jenkinson
The Acting Company: Native Son, Measure for Measure. UK Theatre: Summertime (Arts Theatre West End); Sweet Charity (Oxford Playhouse), A Streetcar Named Desire, Glengarry Glen Ross (ADC Theatre); Prometheus Bound, Henry V, Comedy of Errors, Doctor Faustus (Cambridge Arts Theatre). Regional: Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare on the Sound). Education: The Juilliard School, University of Cambridge. @henryjenkinson.
Galen Ryan Kane
The Acting Company: Native Son, Measure for Measure. New York debut. Regional: Everybody Black (2019 Humana Festival, Actors Theatre of Louisville); Intimate Apparel (McCarter Theatre); Petrol Station (world premiere, Kennedy Center); The Piano Lesson (Hartford Stage) TV/Film: “Life Fine Tuned,” “Madam Secretary,” “Chicago P.D.” Voice-Over: Red Dead Redemption II. Education: Yale School of Drama.
Keshav Moodliar
The Acting Company: Native Son, Measure for Measure. Recent credits include Red Speedo at The Juilliard School, An Octaroon with The Chautauqua Theatre Company, and Once Upon a Time in The Berkshires at The Williamstown Theatre Festival. He can also be seen in the mini-series "Sink Sank Sunk". He is a graduate of The Juilliard School.
Katherine Renee Turner
The Acting Company: Native Son, Measure for Measure. Katherine, a D.C. native, is honored to make her NYC debut with The Acting Company. She has been seen in runboyrun and Sojourners (Magic Theatre), The Convert and FETCH CLAY/Make Man (Marin Theatre), and The Laramie Project (Ford’s Theatre, Helen Hayes nominated). Katherine will be entering her final year at the Juilliard School in the fall.