Playwrights Horizons' BOOTYCANDY Begins Previews Tonight

Playwrights Horizons presents the New York premiere of Bootycandy, a new play written and directed by Obie Award winner Robert O'Hara (director of In the Continuum, author of Antebellum and Insurrection: Holding History). Bootycandy is the opening production of the Playwrights Horizons 2014/2015 Season.

The first preview is this evening, August 22 at 8PM at Playwrights Horizons' Mainstage Theater (416 West 42nd Street). The production has an Opening Night set for Wednesday, September 10 and will play a limited engagement through Sunday, October 12.

The cast of Bootycandy features Phillip James Brannon (The City of Conversation, Belleville, Love and Information), three-time Helen Hayes Award nominee Jessica Frances Dukes (including for Mr. O'Hara's Insurrection: Holding History), Jesse Pennington (Rodney's Wife and Franny's Way at PH; Richard II), Audelco Award winner Benja Kay Thomas (Insurrection: Holding History, Unspeakable, Pearl's Gone Blue) and Lance Coadie Williams (New York debut).

Sutter (Phillip James Brannon) is on an outrageous odyssey through his childhood home, his church, dive bars, motel rooms and even nursing homes. A kaleidoscope of sketches that interconnect to portray growing up gay and black, Robert O'Hara's subversive, uproarious satire crashes headlong into the murky terrain of pain and pleasure and... Bootycandy.

The production features scenic and costume design by Clint Ramos, lighting design by two-time Tony Award nominee Japhy Weideman, sound design by Lindsay Jones, projection design by Aaron Rhyne and hair and make-up design by Dave Bova. Production Stage Manager is Marisa Levy.

The performance schedule for Bootycandy will be Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7PM, Thursdays and Fridays at 8PM, Saturdays at 2:30 PM & 8PM and Sundays at 2:30 PM & 7:30 PM. There's an added Monday evening performance on September 8 at 7PM and the Thursday evening, September 18 performance (a special performance for those age 30 and under) has an early 7PM curtain.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride