Christopher Demos-Brown鈥檚 acclaimed play American Son will return to New York City with a one-night-only benefit reading July 13. Held at the Irish Repertory Theatre's Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage, all net proceeds from this evening will benefit The Entertainment Community Fund.
With the blessing of playwright Demos-Brown, the reading promises a "reimagined" take on the work by gender-flipping the character of Lieutenant John Stokes, who will now be played by a Black woman. Jennifer Fouch茅 (Chicago, Chicken and Biscuits) will take on the role, alongside Trisha Jeffrey as Kendra Ellis-Connor, Michael Simon Hall as Scott Connor, and James M. Reilly as Officer Paul Larkin. Wardell Julius Clark and Mac Anderson-Cooper are directing.
The Broadway premiere of American Son officially opened at the Booth Theatre November 4, 2018, with direction by Kenny Leon. Emmy winner and Golden Globe nominee Kerry Washington starred as Kendra Ellis-Connor alongside Steven Pasquale as Scott Connor. Tony nominee Jeremy Jordan played Officer Paul Larkin, and Eugene Lee played Lieutenant John Stokes. The play is set in a Miami police station in the middle of the night as a separated, interracial couple reunites and grapples with the disappearance of their teenage son. The Broadway production became a Netflix film featuring its full original cast.
The event will conclude with a community-focused talkback led by directors Wardell Julius Clark and Mac Anderson-Cooper and invited civic leaders, discussing actionable steps to support BIPOC youth in New York City.
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