The West Coast premiere of Lee Edward Colston II's The First Deep Breath officially opens at Los Angeles' Geffen Playhouse February 9. The production began performances February 1.
Directed by Steve H. Broadnax III, the production stars Opa Adeyemo as AJ (Alexander Michael Jones), playwright Lee Edward Colston II as Abdul-Malik (Albert Melvin Jones IV), Brandon Mendez Homer as Leslie Carter, Ella Joyce as Ruth Jones, Deanna Reed-Foster as Pearl Thomas, Candace Thomas as Dee-Dee (Denise Jones), Tony Todd as Pastor Albert Melvin Jones III, and Keith A. Wallace as Tyree Fisher.
The First Deep Breath follows the Jones family, lead by patriarch Pastor Albert Jones, while organizing a memorial service to mark the sixth anniversary of daughter Diane's death. When their estranged eldest son, Abdul-Malik, comes home from prison, the families mask of perfection begins to break down as family secrets spill forth.
The creative team, lead by Broadnax III, includes scenic designer Michael Carnahan, costume designer Eduardo Castro, lighting designer Pablo Santiago, sound designer Curtis Craig, composer Rashad McPherson, choreographer DJ Smart, fight director Steve Rankin, dramaturg Lindsay A. Jenkins, production stage manager Alyssa Escalante, assistant stage manager Amber R. Dettmers, and casting by Phyllis Schuringa.
For more information, visit GeffenPlayhouse.org.
