The Gift Theatre, is proud to present Topdog/Underdog, written by Suzan-Lori Parks and directed by Shanésia Davis, September 12 - October 20, at Filament Theater, 4041 N. Milwaukee Ave. The schedule includes preview performances on Thursday, Sept. 12 - Saturday, Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 15 at 3 p.m. and Thursday, Sept. 19 - Saturday, Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m. Opening night is Sunday, Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. The regular performance schedule is Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. There will be an audio described performance on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 7:30 p.m. and an understudy performance Saturday, Oct. 19 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at TheGiftTheatre.org and start at $35 for general admission with $15 tickets for students and $20 for veterans.
This darkly comic fable of brotherly love and family identity tells the story of two brothers, Lincoln and Booth, names given to them as a joke by their father. Haunted by the past and their obsession with the street con game, “three-card monte”, the brothers come to learn the true nature of their history
(L to R) Gregory Fenner as “Lincoln” and Martel Manning as “Booth” Photo by Joe Mazza | Brave Lux
“While envisioning our upcoming season we wanted to choose a blend of stories that would be both personal and challenging to the artists involved,” says Co-Artistic Director Jennifer Glasse about Gift Theatre’s 2024-2025 season.
“Topdog/Underdog has been a dream project with roles ensemble members Martel Manning and Gregory Fenner have wanted to play for years. We are thrilled to reunite them with the vision and direction of the incomparable Shanésia Davis. They are all deeply connected to this story and I am over the moon for Chicago to see their dreams come to fruition,” continued Glasse.
The cast of Topdog/Underdog includes Martel Manning* (he/him, Lincoln); Gregory Fenner* (he/him, Booth); Stewart Romero (pronouns, U/S Lincoln); and Jermaine Jenkins (pronouns, U/S Booth).
The production team includes Shanésia Davis (She/her, director). Full production team will be announced at a later date.
*Connoted The Gift Theatre ensemble members
ABOUT SUZAN-LORI PARKS, PLAYWRIGHT
Widely considered one of the most adventurous playwrights of her generation, Suzan-Lori Parks has received a MacArthur Genius Award, been declared a “Master Dramatist” by PEN America and received a Steinberg Award for Distinguished American Playwriting. In addition to winning The Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Topdog/Underdog, she has also been a Pulitzer finalist two additional times for her plays In The Blood and Father Comes Home from the Wars. Parks was widely acclaimed for her revised adaptation of The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. An accomplished screenwriter, she has collaborated with Spike Lee (“Girl 6”), Rashid Johnson (“Native Son”) and Oprah Winfrey (“Their Eyes Were Watching God”). In 2021, Parks saw the premiere of her film “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” (directed by Lee Daniels) and the premiere of her season of “Genius: Aretha Franklin” where she served as writer and showrunner.
ABOUT SHANÉSIA DAVIS, DIRECTOR
Shanésia Davis has graced the stages of theaters in Chicago and regionally. Some of her credits include works at Steppenwolf, Northlight, Porchlight Music Theatre Goodman, Congo Square, Mark Taper Forum, Cleveland Playhouse, CenterStage Baltimore, The Gift Theatre, Kansas City Rep and Court Theatre to name a few. In addition she has several Jeff Award nominations including the recent Fences. Davis is a multi–NAACP Image Award nominee and is a Black Theatre Alliance Award recipient and Excellence in The Arts Award recipient. Film credits include Chicago Stories: Ida B. Wells, The Thing about Harry, Working Man, BLUEPRINT, External Rivals, Consumed, Damaged Goods, Cleveland Abduction, Morning Due, The Weatherman, Uncle Nino, Life Sentence, Chicago Cab among others. Television credits include Emmy nominated LOVECRAFT COUNTRY(HBO), Proven Innocent (FOX), Empire (FOX), Chicago Fire (NBC), CRISIS (ABC), Detroit 187 (ABC), and series regular on Early Edition (CBS). Her directing credits include Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill. Davis is Program Director of Acting at Roosevelt University CCPA where she directed a very successful production of Indecent. Other directing includes Spunk, Mother Courage and Her Children. Other university directing includes Our Lady of 121st Street, good night, Desdemona good morning, Juliette as well as several workshops and readings with Congo Square Theatre. She is published writer of Nine questions every actor of color should consider when tokenism is not enough. Routledge, Taylor & Fracis publishing
www.routledge.com/ 9781032264608
Shanésia is a long standing member of SAG/AFTRA and AEA unions.
About The Gift Theatre
Since 2001 and with over 70 productions, The Gift Theatre has been dedicated to telling great stories onstage with honesty and simplicity. Our unwavering dedication to accessibility and intimacy as a professional equity theatre has garnered national recognition for both our company and ensemble. We strive to push boundaries, broaden perspectives, and ignite a cultural revolution on Chicago's northwest side. Please visit www.thegifttheatre.org for more information.
The Gift Theatre, is proud to present Topdog/UnderdogTOPDOG/UNDERDOG, written by Suzan-Lori Parks and directed by Shanésia Davis, September 12 - October 20, at Filament Theater, 4041 N. Milwaukee Ave. The schedule includes preview performances on Thursday, Sept. 12 - 13, Saturday, Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 15 at 3 p.m. and Thursday, Sept. 19 - Saturday, Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m., 19, 20 and 21 at 7:30 p.m., with an additional preview on September 15 at 3 p.m. Opening night is Sunday, Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. The regular performance schedule is Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. There will be an audio described performance on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m. and an understudy performance Saturday, Oct.19 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets for Topdog/Underdog TOPDOG/UNDERDOG will go on sale Thursday, Aug. 1 at TheGiftTheatre.org. Tickets start at $35 for general admission, with $15 tickets for students and $20 for veterans.