Everyman Theatre Brings Colman Domingo's New Holiday Comedy DOT to Baltimore This December

After its hit premiere at the Humana Festival of New Plays and a critically lauded Off Broadway production, playwright and actor Colman Domingo's comedy-drama DOT will open to audiences in Baltimore at Everyman Theatre. Directed by Founding Artistic Director Vincent M. Lancisi, the production features acclaimed actress Sharon Hope in the title role of Dotty, joined by Resident Company members Megan Anderson and Dawn Ursula. It will run from December 7, 2016 to January 8, 2017.

For the holiday season, hot off its hit New York run, comes an uproariously funny new play from playwright/actor Colman Domingo (Wild With Happy / star of Fear the Walking Dead) that takes a touching look at shifting family dynamics and the fragility of the mind affecting an African-American family from West Philly. Dotty and her three adult children are home for the holidays, but this year there is more than presents and yuletide on their mind. While Dotty fights to maintain a grasp on her fading memory, brother and sisters collide in a riotous and raw familial brawl where losing your mind and losing your sanity are two different things.

"Colman Domingo once again proves his mastery in telling stories that enchant, surprise and resonate with audiences of all kinds," said Everyman Theatre's Founding Artistic Director Vincent M. Lancisi. "It is an honor to work with an internationally recognized talent of the stage and the screen and we are particularly excited about his latest work DOT. In addition to being hilarious, DOT also delves into important issues that so many families have to face when a loved one develops a debilitating illness. Colman's story demonstrates how sometimes laughter truly is the best medicine."

Leading up to DOT, Colman Domingo's Wild with Happy and A Boy and His Soul earned him much praise as a playwright. As a director, Domingo has staged many plays including Barbecue, which enjoyed sold-out shows at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. An accomplished actor, Domingo currently stars in AMC's Fear the Walking Dead, and has appeared in such films as the Academy Award-nominated Selma, Lee Daniels' The Butler, The Birth of a Nation and Steven Spielberg's production Lincoln. He is on the board of the directors of the Vineyard Theater in New York and serves on the faculty of the National Theater Institute at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center.

Sharon Hope, who hails from New York, joins Everyman's production to play the role of the family's aging matriarch Dotty. Most recently, she played the role of Ella Franklin inPermanent Collection at the Human Race Theatre in Dayton, OH. Also a TV and film actress, she has starred in Newlyweeds, co-starred on HBO's Girls, and guest-starred on STARZ's Power and NBC's Law & Order.

Dawn Ursula, a Resident Company member, plays Shelly, the daughter who carries the onus of her mother's care-taking and resents her two siblings for it. Ursula recently starred inDeath of a Salesman at Everyman as The Woman, and in A Streetcar Named Desire as Eunice. Her TV and film credits include appearances on The Wire, VEEP and PBS: Prince Among Slaves.

Megan Anderson, another Resident Company member, plays Jackie, Shelly's childhood friend who had once dated her brother. In October, Anderson starred in Everyman's Wait Until Darkas Susan, and previously in Death of a Salesman as Miss Forsythe and A Streetcar Named Desire as Stella. In 2014, she was named Best Actress in the City Paper's Best of Baltimore awards.

DOT first premiered in 2015 at the Humana Festival at Actors Theater of Louisville and, shortly thereafter, premiered Off Broadway in February 2016 at the Vineyard Theater in New York. Before coming to Baltimore, the Detroit Public Theatre is showing the play November 16 through December 11.

Event Listings

Pay What You Can Performance

Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at 7:30 PM

Tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 5:30 PM on December 6. Patrons may donate the amount of their choosing for this performance.

Taste of Everyman

Thursday, December 15, 2016 at 6 PM

Kick back as you mix with other theatre lovers in our upstairs lounge during this exclusive pre-show cocktail party featuring holiday spirits with hors d'oeuvres curated to match by The French Kitchen. Call 410.752.2208 or visit www.everymantheatre.org for more details.

SALON SERIES: Women's Voices

The Book of Grace

By Suzan-Lori Parks, Directed by Deborah Hazlett

December 12, 2016 at 6 - 10 PM

Tickets: $15 individual tickets; $5 student ticket

To order: 410.752.2208 or www.everymantheatre.org

In this show, the borders outside are northing compared to the emotional walls inside the home of a Texas border patrol agent, his wife Grace and their estranged son, Buddy.

ReWINEd: DOT

December 18, 2016, 6 - 9 PM

Tickets: $85 dinner and show; $30 dinner only

To order: 410.752.2208 or www.everymantheatre.org

Dovecote Café, 2501 Madison Ave #1F, Baltimore, MD 21217

Take in a matinee and then participate in a moderated discussion over a delicious dinner featuring produce from the local farm Strength to Love.

About Everyman Theatre

Everyman Theatre is a professional Equity theatre company celebrating the actor, with a Resident Company of artists from the Baltimore/DC area. Founded in 1990 by Vincent M. Lancisi, the theatre is dedicated to engaging the audience through a shared experience between actor and audience seeking connection and emotional truth in performance. Everyman is committed to presenting high quality plays that are affordable and accessible to everyone. The theatre strives to engage, inspire and transform artists, audiences and community through theatre of the highest artistic standards and is committed to embodying the promise of its name, Everyman Theatre.

Harris, Jones and Malone is the proud production sponsor for DOT. The 16/17 Season is generously sponsored by LifeBridge Health and Neil & Ellen Meltzer. Everyman Theatre's Pay-What-You-Can nights are supported by Dr. E. Lee & Bea Robbins. Everyman Theatre is proud to have The Baltimore Sun Media Group and WYPR Season Media Sponsors.

MSAC provides financial support and technical assistance to non-profit organizations, units of government, colleges and universities for arts activities. Funding for the Maryland State Arts Council is also provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Everyman Theatre is a proud member of the Bromo Tower Arts and Entertainment District and the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance.

Vincent M. Lancisi is the Founding Artistic Director of Everyman Theatre; Jonathan K. Waller is the Managing Director. For information about Everyman Theatre, visit www.everymantheatre.org or call 410.752.2208.

Pictured: Screenwriter Coleman Domingo at the first read-through of Everyman's production.