FRANKLINLAND, a Comedy About Benjamin Franklin Will Come to the B Street Theatre
Peter Story and Tim Liu star in Lloyd Suh's new play at B Street Theatre in Sacramento
B Street Theatre has announced FRANKLINLAND, a sharp, fast-paced comedy by Lloyd Suh, a delightfully irreverent look at Benjamin Franklin. Not just as a founding father, but as a father who sets expectations... aggressively high. Performances run April 29 - May 29.
Set between 1752 and 1785, FRANKLINLAND follows Benjamin Franklin and his son William through years of scientific experiments, political upheaval, and increasingly strained conversations. As Franklin chases discovery, reinvention, and a grand utopian vision called "Franklinland," William is left trying to answer a simpler question: how do you become your own person when your father is Benjamin Franklin?
The result is a comedy of ambition, ego, and emotional whiplash! Franklin is a man who can harness electricity but struggles to read the room, while William does his best to keep up, push back, and occasionally just survive the conversation.
FRANKLINLAND is incredibly funny, but underneath that is a story about identity, expectation, and what it costs to live in someone else's shadow... even when that someone helped invent lightning.
The production stars Peter Story* (A CHRISTMAS CAROL) as Benjamin Franklin, bringing charisma, intellect, and just enough chaos to the role, alongside Tim Liu* (A MOVING DAY) as William Franklin, a son navigating admiration, frustration, and the slow realization that "be exactly like me" may not be actionable advice. Rounding out the cast is Braden Delgado* as William Temple, making his B Street Theatre debut.
While (mostly) rooted in history, FRANKLINLAND resonates with contemporary audiences through its exploration of family dynamics, ambition, and the universal experience of trying (and sometimes failing) to impress a parent. It is a story that asks big questions: about legacy, independence, and self-worth, while delivering plenty of laughs along the way.
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