HEAD OF PASSES, Starring Phylicia Rashad, Begins Next Week at the Taper

A friendly reminder that previews begin Wednesday, September 13, for Center Theatre Group's production of "Head of Passes" by Academy Award winner and playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney. Directed by Tina Landau, "Head of Passes" opens Sunday, September 24 and continues through October 22, 2017, at the Mark Taper Forum.

The cast of "Head of Passes" includes, in alphabetical order, Alana Arenas, Francois Battiste, Kyle Beltran, J. Bernard Calloway, James Carpenter, John Earl Jelks, Phylicia Rashad and Jacqueline Williams.

Family and friends are gathering to celebrate Shelah's (portrayed by Rashad) birthday under the leaky roof of her home at the mouth of the Mississippi River. But an unwanted birthday party and unrelenting rains are only the first challenges in this contemporary parable inspired by the Book of Job in which unexpected events turn the reunion into the ultimate test of faith and love. As her world seems to collapse around her, Shelah must fight to survive the rising flood of life's greatest challenges in this poetic and piercing new play.

The creative team for "Head of Passes" includes scenic design by G.W. Mercier, costume design by Toni-Leslie James, lighting design by Jeff Croiter, sound design by Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen and wig and hair design by Robert-Charles Vallance. The production stage manager is David S. Franklin.

Tarell Alvin McCraney co-wrote the Academy Award-winning film "Moonlight," which is based on his play "In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue." The film earned him an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. McCraney is an ensemble member at Steppenwolf Theatre Company and founding member of Teo Castellanos/D-Projects. In addition to the MacArthur "Genius" Grant, he has received the Doris Duke Artist Award, Whiting Award, Steinberg Playwright Award, Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Playwright, The New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award, the Paula Vogel Playwriting Award and the Windham Campbell Award. He was International Writer in Residence for the Royal Shakespeare Company (2009 to 2011) where he remains an associate artist. McCraney is the Artistic Director of the Youth Arts Leadership Summer Program. His Public Theater Productions include "Head of Passes," "The Brother/Sister Plays" and an edit of "Antony and Cleopatra." "The Brothers Size" was a part of the Under the Radar Festival and other credits include "Choir Boy" and "Wig Out." McCraney is the chair of the Department of Playwriting at the Yale School of Drama. He is developing a new TV series for the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Center Theatre Group, one of the nation's preeminent arts and cultural organizations, is Los Angeles' leading nonprofit theatre company, programming seasons at the 736-seat Mark Taper Forum and 1600 to 2000-seat Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles, and the 317-seat Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. In addition to presenting and producing the broadest range of theatrical entertainment in the country, Center Theatre Group is one of the nation's leading producers of ambitious new works through commissions and world premiere productions and a leader in interactive community engagement and education programs that reach across generations, demographics and circumstance to serve Los Angeles.

Tickets to "Head of Passes" are available by calling (213) 628-2772, online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org or at the Center Theatre Group Box Office located at the Ahmanson Theatre. Tickets range from $25 - $95 (ticket prices are subject to change). The Mark Taper Forum is located at The Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown L.A. 90012.