Determined to make his mark like those before him, Pharus is hell-bent on being the best choir leader in his prep-school’s 50 year history. First, he must gain the respect of his peers, but he’s an outsider in a world of ritual and tradition. Laced with soaring gospel music, this coming-of-age drama is an exciting commencement of our 35th anniversary season.
Tarell Alvin McCraney is well-known to Chicago audiences for his acclaimed trilogy, The Brother/Sister Plays: The Brothers Size, In the Red and Brown Water, and Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet, which were performed at Steppenwolf Theatre in 2010. He was named a Steppenwolf ensemble member that year, and his play Head of Passes received its world premiere there in 2013, the year he received a MacArthur Fellowship “Genius Grant.” On February 26 of this year, he shared an Academy Award with Barry Jenkins for “Best Adapted Screenplay” of Moonlight, which was also named “Best Picture” of 2016 by the Academy. The screenplay was based on McCraney’s short play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue.
Patrick Agada (Bobby Marrow)
Robert Hardaway (Headmaster Marrow)
Tamarus Harvell (AJ James)
Christopher W. Jones (Pharus Young)
Darren Patin (David Heard)
Julian Terrell Otis (Junior Davis)
Don Tieri (Mr. Pendleton)
Benjamin Jenkins (u/s Bobby Marrow)
Jabari Khaliq (u/s David Heard)
Ben F Locke (u/s Junior Davis)
Ki-Jana Moore (u/s Pharus Young, AJ James)
Tom Porter (u/s Mr. Pendleton)
Varris Holmes (u/s Headmaster Marrow)
Mike Menendian (Director)
Ray Toler (Set Designer)
JoAnn Montemurro (Costume Designer)
Diane Fairchild (Lighting Designer)
Sebby Woldt (Sound Designer)
Mary O’Dowd (Props Designer)
Frederick Harris (Music Director)
Breon Arzell (Choreographer)
Kathryn “Kat” McNall (Stage Manager)
Destiney Higgins (Assistant Director)
Dan Laushman (Technical Director)