Running June 5-28, Father Comes Home from the Wars (Parts 1, 8 & 9), is the latest work from Parks, who is currently the master writer chair in residence at the Public Theater. Jo Bonney (subUrbia, All That I Will Ever Be) directs.
On June 16, Parks will join Harvard University African and African American Studies professor Glenda Carpio for a conversation titled "Metadrama: Bring It On!"; the June 23 talback will feature Public Theater artistic director Oskar Eustis, Parks and cast members of Father Comes Home from the Wars.
Press notes for the new work state, "Parks takes the stage to play the role of our guide leading through a multimedia epic tale about slavery, war, freedom, and the difficulty of family ties. Part I tells the story of Penny, a slave, awaiting her husband’s return from the Civil War while resisting her own desire to flee with a band of runaway slaves. Parts 8 & 9, set in present day, follow a Poet-General struggling with the reality of his impending death while he plans his annual celebration for the army troops."
The cast includes Nicole Beharie, Seth Gilliam, Patrice Johnson, James McDaniel, Joan MacIntosh, Lucas Papaelias and Frederick Weller.
The Public LAB presentation will have scenic design by Neil Patel, costume design by Emilio Sosa, lighting design by Lap Chi Chu, sound design by Dan Moses Schreier and video design by Shawn Sagady. Suzan-Lori Parks is a Pulitzer Prize winner for her play Topdog/Underdog, which was produced at The Public. Her other works include Fucking A, 365 Days/365 Plays, Imperceptible Mutabilities in the Third Kingdom, The America Play, Venus, The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World and In The Blood, among others.
A collaboration between the Public and LAByrinth Theater Company, the Public LAB offers theatregoers the opportunity to witness developing work from emerging and established playwrights. The swiftly rehearsed, stripped-down presentations are presented for only $10.
For tickets phone (212) 967-7555 or visit PublicTheater.
The Public Theater is located at 425 Lafayette Street in Manhattan.
