Stage West Presents Robert O'Hara's Incendiary Comedy BOOTYCANDY

Growing up black and growing up gay: each presents a unique set of difficulties and challenges. Growing up black AND gay? Those are some tricky waters to navigate, and are the focus of Robert O'Hara's fearlessly outrageous Bootycandy, beginning its 5-week run at Stage West on Thursday, August 11.

Sutter has always known he was different-he loves musicals, and dancing to Michael Jackson tunes. When he tells his parents that a strange man tried to follow him home, their response is that he should stop listening to Whitney Houston, give up musicals, and take up sports. This painfully hilarious scene is just one of a kaleidoscope of sketches (others include a preacher with a secret, a discussion of baby names, and an "uncoupling" ceremony) representing the fragments of a young man's journey to self-acceptance. This hybrid of outrageous comedy and searing honesty holds a mirror up to the ways we see human desire and racial stereotypes, and will have audiences laughing-and talking-for days.

"Smart, searing, and sensationally funny." - New York Times "...flamboyance, ribaldry, hilarity and unsettling poignancy." - Los Angeles Times

Robert O'Hara has recently released his Film Writing and Directing debut, The Inheritance. He received the 2010 NAACP Best Director Award for his direction of Eclipsed by Danai Guiria. He received 2010 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding New Play for Antebellum and an OBIE Award for his Direction of the World Premiere of the critically acclaimed In the Continuum at Primary Stages. He wrote and directed the World Premiere of Insurrection: Holding History at the New York Shakespeare Festival, the piece received the Oppenheimer Award for Best New American Play and was subsequently published by both TCG and Dramatist Play Service. He directed the World Premiere of Brother/Sister Plays (Part 2), Co-Production at McCarter Theater/ New York Shakespeare Festival. His new play Etiquette of Vigilance was produced in the Steppenwolf First Look Festival 2010. ACT/Zeum recently produced his play, Good Breeding. Bootycandy, under his direction, was presented at the Woolly Mammoth Theater. He is currently an Adjunct Professor at NYU/TISCH School of the Arts. (from robertohara.com)

Bootycandy is directed by noted area director Akin Babatunde. The exciting cast features Natalie Wilson King, last at Stage West as Auntie Mimi in The Unmentionables, Liz Mikel, whose role as Corinna Williams on Friday Night Lights brought her national acclaim, Justin Duncan, seen as Melchior in Spring Awakenings at Runway Theatre, Aaron Green, who played Frank-n-Furter in Denton Community Theatre's The Rocky Horror Show, and Djoré Nance, who appeared as Lincoln in the Soul Rep Theatre production of Topdog/Underdog.

The set will be designed by Jim Covault, with lighting design by Texas Wesleyan professor BRyan Stevenson, and costume design by Aaron Patrick DeClerk. Sound design is by Jack Piland, choreography by Shaté L. Edwards, and props by Lynn Lovett.

Bootycandy will preview Thursday, August 11 at 7:30 and Friday, August 12 at 8:00, and will run through Sunday, September 11. Performance times will be Thursday evenings at 7:30, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00, with Sunday matinees at 3:00. The opening night reception will be Saturday, August 13. Ticket prices range from $31 to $35, with discounts for the preview performance, and for students, seniors, and military. Food service is available 90 minutes prior to performances (reservations are necessary), and the Friday Prix Fixe special (dinner and show for $45) will be available beginning August 19. Reservations and information are available through the Box Office (817-784-9378), or on the website, www.stagewest.org.

NOTE: this play contains strong language, adult situations, and nudity.

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