Theater News

Victory Gardens Theater Presents the Midwest Premiere of Sucker Punch

Performances of the Oliver Award-nominated drama start tonight.

Katie Pierpont

Katie Pierpont

| Chicago |

September 18, 2015

Roy Williams play, Sucker Punch, begins performances tonight at Victory Gardens.
Roy Williams is the author of the play Sucker Punch, which begins performances tonight at Victory Gardens.
(courtesy of the production)

Sucker Punch, a new boxing drama, begins its run tonight at Victory Gardens.

Set in the 1980s, two aspiring black boxers, Leon and Troy, work to fulfill the potential futures they have in the ring. Michael Jackson plays on the radio, Conan the Barbarian dominates the box office, and, whether everyone knows it or not, race riots are imminent. When they break out in Leon and Troy’s London neighborhood, the two friends are forced to make a tough decision. Years later, they face each other, and the men they have become, in the ring. The play confronts the world of family, friends, and boxing.

The show is written by award-winning playwright Roy Williams and directed by Dexter Bullard. The cast features Taylor Blim as Becky, Walter Briggs as Tommy, Maurice Demus as Leon, Kenn E. Head as Squid, John Judd as Charlie, Denzel Love as Troy, and André Teamer as Ray.

The creative team includes Tom Burch (set design), Tif Bullard (costume design), Lee Fiskness (lighting design), Christopher Kriz (sound design), Jay Tollefsen (props master), Chuck Coyl (fight choreographer), Ruben Gonzalez (boxing coach), and Helen Lattyak (stage manager).

Performances will run through October 18.

For tickets and more information, click here.

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