Native Son (Kelley/Wright)

A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

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Cast Size

4w, 5m
Duration

90 minutes
Subgenre

Adaptations (Literature)
Target Audience

Adult

Details

Summary

Suffocating in rat-infested poverty on the South Side of Chicago in the 1930s, twenty-year-old Bigger Thomas struggles to find a place for himself in a world whose prejudice has shut him out. After taking a job in a wealthy white man's house, Bigger unwittingly unleashes a series of events that violently and irrevocably seal his fate. Adapted with theatrical ingenuity by Chicago's own Nambi E. Kelley, this Native Son captures the power of Richard Wright's novel for a whole new generation.

History

Native Son premiered in a co-production between the American Blues Theater and the Court Theatre in Chicago, IL in September 2014 under the direction of Seret Scott.

Cast Attributes

Keywords

Performing Groups

BIGGER - African-American male of 20
THE BLACK RAT - Afican-American male 20s, the voice inside Bigger’s head
MARY - Caucasian female, early 20s, edgy and simultaneously precious
JAN - Caucasian male, 30s, well-intentioned with an edge; plays a variety of roles
HANNAH - African-American female, early 40s, tough, broken, the edge of anger; plays a veriety of roles
BUDDY - African-American male to play teens, soft, a follower; plays a variety of roles
BESSIE - African-American female to play teens to mid 20s, alcoholic; also plays VER and a variety of roles
MRS. DALTON - Caucasian female, late 40s to early 50s, blind and well-intentioned; plays a variety of roles
BRITTEN - Caucasian male, 40s-50s, main investigator, thrives on mischief; plays a variety of roles

-The live black rat that Bigger chases, and the white cat can be puppets activated by an unseen manipulator.

Time Period 1930s
Setting
December 1939. Chicago’s Blackbelt and surrounding areas.
Features Period Costumes
Additional Features No intermission, Puppetry, Stage Combat
Duration 90 minutes
Cautions
- Alcohol
- Strong Language
- Mild Adult Themes

Media

REVIEWS

“4 out of 4 stars. You never doubt the truth […] you are seeing in this gutsy, powerful, relentless, profoundly disturbing piece of Chicago theater.” - Chicago Tribune, Read More

"Stirring […] strong, serious stuff, just as it should be." - Wall Street Journal, Read More

"5 out of 5 stars. Playwright Nambi E. Kelley’s achievement is impressive not only for successfully dramatizing the tale of Bigger Thomas and his seemingly inevitable succumbing to systemic racism and poverty on the South Side, but for doing so by not being slavish to her source." - Time Out Chicago, Read More

"Unflinching in its honesty and searing in its passion, Native Son is not only a Grade-A example of literary adaptation, but also a play that truly speaks to our times and the ever-troubled American spirit that defines them." - Chicago Theatre Review, Read More

Videos

Scene from Native Son
Native Son - Act One: Fear
Native Son - Act Two: Flight
Native Son - Fate

Photos

Image: 2017 Yale Repertory Theatre Production (Joan Marcus)

Licensing & Materials

Minimum Fee: $110 per performance

Scripts

Available Formats:

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Ticketing

Authors

Nambi E. Kelley

Nambi E. Kelley has penned plays for Steppenwolf Theatre, Goodman Theatre and Court Theatre/American Blues Theater in Chicago, Lincoln Center in New York, and internationally with LATT Children’s Theatre/Unibooks Publishing Company (South Korea), Teatri Sbagliati (Italy) and ...

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Native Son (Kelley/Wright)