Second Stage Uptown's 10 Things To Do Before I Die Opens Off-Broadway May 28

By Ernio Hernandez
28 May 2009

Natalie Venetia Belcon (top) and Tracie Thoms
Natalie Venetia Belcon (top) and Tracie Thoms
Photo by Joan Marcus

The world premiere of Zakiyyah Alexander's 10 Things To Do Before I Die, starring Natalie Venetia Belcon and Tracie Thoms, officially opens May 28 at Off-Broadway's McGinn/Cazale Theatre.

Jackson Gay directs the production, part of Second Stage Theatre's Uptown Series, which began previews May 12 and runs through June 14.

Commissioned by the Time Warner Commissioning Program at Second Stage, Alexander's 10 Things To Do Before I Die centers on "Vida (Belcon), a NYC high school teacher and Nia (Thoms), a once-successful writer…two sisters who couldn't be more different," according to a release. "When a delivery of boxes from their recently deceased father arrives they must reconnect and re-examine their complicated history."

Belcon (Avenue Q) and Thoms (Rent) lead a cast that also features Francois Battiste (The Good Negro), Kyle Beltran (Kingdom) and Dion Graham (Raisin in the Sun).

Alexander has also penned Sick? (Summer Play Festival), The Etymology of a Bird (Hip Hop Theater Festival) and Blurring Shine (Market Theater, Johannesburg).

Director Gay has staged Carly Mensch's Len, Asleep in Vinyl for Second Stage as well as Jason Grote's Box Americana (O'Neill Playwrights Conference), Wojcieszek's Made in Poland (Play Company), Lucy Thurber's Scarcity and Rolin Jones' The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow (Atlantic Theater Company).

The design team for 10 Things… includes Wilson Chin (scenic), Jenny Mannis (costume), Thomas Dunn (lighting) with Daniel Baker and Aaron Meicht (original music/sound).

This summer's Second Stage Theatre Uptown Series will continue with the world premiere of Lila Rose Kaplan's Wildflower, directed by Giovanna Sardelli, July 13-Aug. 8.

Tickets to 10 Things To Do Before I Die at Second Stage Theatre's uptown home, the McGinn/Cazale Theatre (Broadway at 76th Street), are available by calling the Second Stage Theatre Box Office at (212) 246-4422 or online at 2ST.com.