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Daniel J. Watts, Roslyn Ruff Open in Death of the Last Black Man

Suzan-Lori Parks’ drama is directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz.

Daniel J. Watts and Roslyn Ruff star in Suzan-Lori Parks' The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World.
Daniel J. Watts and Roslyn Ruff star in Suzan-Lori Parks' The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World.
(© Steve and Anita Shevett)

Signature Theatre's production of Suzan-Lori Parks' The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World celebrated its opening night on November 13. Directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz, the production will run through December 11 in the Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at the Pershing Square Signature Center.

Signature Theatre Artistic Director Paige Evans (center) takes a photo with playwright Suzan-Lori Parks and director Lileana Blain-Cruz.
Signature Theatre artistic director Paige Evans (center) takes a photo with playwright Suzan-Lori Parks and director Lileana Blain-Cruz.
(© Steve and Anita Shevett)

In the work, "a woman tries to feed her husband a fried drumstick. Dragons roam a flat earth. The last Black man in the whole entire world dies again. And again. Careening through memory and language, Parks explores and explodes archetypes of Black America with piercing insight and raucous comedy."

The cast of The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World celebrates opening night.
The cast of The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World celebrates opening night.
(© Steve and Anita Shevett)

The company is composed of William DeMeritt as Voice on Thuh Tee V, Nike Kadri as Yes and Greens Black-Eyed Peas Cornbread, Patrena Murray as Ham, Reynaldo Piniella as And Bigger and Bigger and Bigger, Julian Rozzell as Old Man River Jordan, Roslyn Ruff as Black Woman with Fried Drumstick, Mirirai Sithole as Prunes and Prisms, David Ryan Smith as Before Columbus, Daniel J. Watts as Black Man with Watermelon, Jamar Williams as Lots of Grease and Lots of Pork, and Amelia Workman as Queen-Then-Pharaoh Hatshepsut.

Daniel J. Watts and Suzan-Lori Parks pose with Leon Addison Brown, who starred in the original production of The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World, and now appears in Signature's "Master Harold"...and the Boys.
Daniel J. Watts and Suzan-Lori Parks pose with Leon Addison Brown, who starred in the original production of The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World, and now appears in Signature's "Master Harold"…and the Boys.
(© Steve and Anita Shevett)

The creative team includes Riccardo Hernandez (scenic design), Montana Blanco (costume design), Yi Zhao (lighting design), Palmer Hefferan (sound design), Hannah Wasileski (projection design), Raja Feather Kelly (movement), and Cookie Jordan (wig design).

For tickets and more information, click here.

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