Two world premieres from playwright and Kilroys List honoree Roger Q. Mason, The Pride of Lions and The Duat, will be produced regionally later this year.
San Francisco's Theatre Rhinoceros will stage The Pride of Lions March 28–April 21. Directed by Ely Sonny Orquiza, the world premiere is set in 1928 as five female impersonators are imprisoned for indecency after performing in Mae West’s The Pleasure Man. Click here for ticket information.
The Duat will receive its world premiere from Philadelphia Theatre Company June 7–23 with direction by Taibi Magar. A psychological portrait of FBI counterintelligence officer Cornelius Johnson, the solo show employs spoken word, North African drumming, and choreography. Click here for ticket information.
Chicago's About Face Theatre will also offer Mason's acclaimed Lavender Men May 9-June 8 in The Den Theatre. Lucky Stiff will direct the genre-pushing play, which reimagines President Abraham Lincoln through a queer person of color’s storytelling lens. The work follows Taffeta, a self-proclaimed "fabulous queer creation of color," as she invades Lincoln's private world to confront issues of visibility, race, and LGBTQ+ inclusion. Click here for more information.
“Theatre is local, and we cut our teeth when traveling with our shows around America, building collectives of audiences, collaborators, and champions along the way,” says playwright Mason in a statement. “This year, I am blessed that three different plays of mine will have either world or regional premieres in different parts of the country. It is an honor to share the messages of freedom, unity, and love that these works represent with our country right now—goodness knows we need some joyful news. And my earnest prayer is to make folks from coast to coast laugh, think, and dream together this year."
A recent recipient of The Dramatists Guild Catalyst Fellowship, Mason's work has been seen in New York at Circle in the Square's Circle Reading Series, MCC Theatre with Carnegie Hall, La MaMa ETC, New York Theatre Workshop, New Group, The Fire This Time Festival, Dixon Place, American Theatre of Actors, Flea Theatre, and Access Theater; and regionally at McCarter Theatre, Center Theatre Group, Victory Gardens, Chicago Dramatists, Steep Theatre, Serenbe Playhouse, Theatre Rhinoceros, Open Fist Theatre Company, EST/LA, Coeurage Theatre, Rogue Artists Ensemble, and Son of Semele. They are a member of the Dramatists Guild of America and Ma-Yi’s Writing Lab, as well as an alum of Page 73’s Interstate 73 Writers Group and Primary Stages Writing Cohort.
