Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Andre Bishop, Artistic Director, and Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer) has announced that Francois Battiste, Crystal A. Dickinson, Alano Miller and Wendell Pierce will be featured in its upcoming production of BROKE-OLOGY, a new play by Nathan Louis Jackson, directed by Thomas Kail. BROKE-OLOGY will begin performances Thursday, September 10 and open on Monday, October 5 at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater (150 W. 65 Street).
BROKE-OLOGY is the story of the King family who have weathered the hardships of life and survived with their love for each other intact. But when two brothers (to be played by
Francois Battiste and
Alano Miller) are called home to take care of their ailing father (to be played by
Wendell Pierce), one of them must choose to follow the life he dreams of or honor the unspoken promise of loyalty to his family.
Nathan Louis Jackson is a graduate of the Juilliard School and of Kansas State University. He is a past participant in The Kennedy Center Summer Playwriting intensive, the
William Inge 24 Hour Play Festival and the winner of two
Lorraine Hansberry Playwriting Awards, the
Mark Twain Playwrighting Award and the recipient of the Kennedy Center's Gold Medallion. BROKE-OLOGY premiered last summer at the
Williamstown Theatre Festival.
Thomas Kail directed the hit Broadway musical In The Heights, for which he won a 2007 Joseph A. Callaway Award and was nominated for Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards. He is a consulting producer and a Music Director on the new PBS television show The Electric Company. He recently directed the
City Center Encores! Summer Star series production of The Wiz.
BROKE-OLOGY will have sets by
Donyale Werle, costumes by
Emily Rebholz, lighting by
Jason Lyons and sound by
Jill BC DuBoff.
This fall, in addition to BROKE-OLOGY,
Lincoln Center Theater, which is currently celebrating its 25th Year, will be presenting IN THE NEXT ROOM or the vibrator play, a new play by
Sarah Ruhl, directed by Les Waters on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45 Street) while its award-winning production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC, directed by
Bartlett Sher, continues its record-breaking run at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theater. In addition, this fall LCT3,
Lincoln Center Theater's new programming initiative devoted to the work of new playwrights, directors and designers will present the first of three productions of its second season at The Duke on 42nd Street.
Francois Battiste Broadway: Prelude To A Kiss. Off-Broadway: The Good Negro. Regional Theater credits include productions at the
Dallas Theatre Center,
Chicago Shakespeare Theatre,
Victory Gardens Theatre,
Lookingglass Theatre Company, and The
Goodman Theatre.
CRYSTAL A. DICKINSON Off-Broadway: The First Breeze of Summer (
Signature Theatre), Home, Don't Tread On Me (52nd Street Project). TV/Film credits include the recurring role of Melissa in
Tyler Perry's House of Payne.
Alano Miller Regional credits: In the Red and Brown Water and Marcus: O the Secret of Sweet (McCarter Theater). Film: Champagne, Alex's Last Day and New York Stories.
Wendell Pierce Broadway: Serious Money, The Boys of Winter. Off Broadway: Tartuffe, Tis Pity She's a Whore, Cymbeline, Two Gentlemen of Verona (all NYSF); Waiting for Godot, The Cherry Orchard, The Good Times are Killing Me. TV: series regular on The Wire, I'll Fly Away; and many guest star and recurring roles on such series as In Plain Sight, Law & Order, Judging Amy, Third Watch. Film: Ray, Bulworth, Sleepers, Manhattan Murder Mystery, Malcolm X, Bonfire of the Vanities.
Photo: Joniece Abbott-Pratt and Francois Battiste
