Theater News

Woolly Mammoth Theatre's Remount of An Octoroon Begins Performances

The production reunites the cast and crew of Woolly Mammoth Theatre’s 2016 production of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’s play.

James Konicek, Kathryn Tkel, Jon Hudson Odom, and Erika Rose star in Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins An Octoroon, directed by Nataki Garrett, at Woolly Mammoth Theatre's Main Stage.
James Konicek, Kathryn Tkel, Jon Hudson Odom, and Erika Rose star in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins An Octoroon, directed by Nataki Garrett, at Woolly Mammoth Theatre's Main Stage.
(© Scott Suchman)

An Octoroon begins performances tonight at Woolly Mammoth Theatre. The company previously mounted the production in 2016. Nataki Garrett directs.

"An Octoroon represents our mission so well because it challenges the audiences with a provocative and innovative theatrical experience while also galvanizing them to continue to deepen the conversation around the play," says Woolly Mammoth artistic director Howard Shalwitz. "The current political atmosphere propelled us to remount the play to reinvigorate the dialogue surrounding racial tension in America. The 2016 production was a huge success and 2017 promises to be an even more critical time for audiences to hear its message."

Obie award-winning playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins play is described as follows: "A plantation on the brink of foreclosure. A young gentleman falling for the part-black daughter of the estate’s owner. An evil swindler plotting to buy her for himself. Meanwhile, the slaves are trying to keep things drama-free, because everybody else is acting crazy."

The cast features Jon Hudson Odom (BJJ), Erika Rose (Dido), and Shannon Dorsey (Minnie). They are joined by Joseph Castillo-Midyett (Assistant), Kathryn Tkel (Zoe), Maggie Erwin (Dora), Felicia Curry (Grace), Jobari Parker-Namdar (Br'er Rabbit), and James Konicek (Playwright).

An Octoroon's creative team comprises Misha Kachman (set design), Colin K. Bills (lighting design), Ivania Stack (costume design), Kim James Bey (dialect coach), Patrick Calhoun (sound design), and composer Christylez Bacon.

Performances continue through August 6.

For tickets and more information, click here.

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An Octoroon

Closed: August 6, 2017