Barbecue at Kalamazoo Civic Theatre

Barbecue centers on around the O'Mallerys, a dysfunctional group of siblings who come together for a park barbeque in order to stage an emergency intervention for their sister Barbara, whose drug habit has gotten out of hand. However, there are in fact two O'Mallery families, one white and one black. Each appear in different, yet similar scenes that juxtapose to create a dialogue about racial and family politics.

The production premiered at the Public Theater in New York City in 2015. The narrative cleverly intertwines themes of family, addiction, and storytelling, utilizing a unique structure that contrasts two families, one white and one black, gathering for an intervention barbecue in a public park. It's known for its sharp humor and unexpected plot twists, examining broader issues of race, class, and identity in America.

Authors

• Robert O'Hara