JSU’s Department of Drama will present a reading of Suzan Lori-Parks’ Topdog/Underdog in continuation of their Scripted Studio series.

The play, which first opened in 2001, follows the story of African American brothers Lincoln and Booth, whose names were given as a joke. Amid a life of indignation and sibling rivalry, the pair struggles to come to terms with their bleak past and unpromising future before engaging in a bitter, deceitful, and ultimately fatal game of Three Card Monte.

“I’m very excited to be doing such a crucial play that tackles issues of race. I think that speaks to our immediate cultural moment very deeply,” said Dr. Michael Boynton, director of the Topdog/Underdog reading. “I also am excited to promote and support more African American theatre, which is something I would love to see more of everywhere, and here at JSU. More specifically, I’m especially excited to give my students of color the opportunity to work on a piece like this one, which is so good for their education and their preparation for work in the professional world.”

Boynton also hopes that the reading can be a learning experience for his students. “When I was an undergraduate student and actor-in-training, I was in my college mainstage production of another one of [Suzan Lori-Parks’] plays, The America Play. That was a great learning experience for me, both as an actor and as a young American learning more about race in our society. It is a real treat and a very personal honor to get to share some of that experience with my students,” he stated.

The evening after the reading, there will be a talkback event in which the play, its playwright, and its deeper meaning and significance will be discussed by Dr. Faedra Chatard Carpenter of American University in Washington, D.C.

Boynton also arranged the talkback event and looks forward to it. “Suzan-Lori Parks is hands down one of the most prominent and talented playwrights working today. She won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Topdog/Underdog, which is perhaps one of her most well-known plays. In fact, she was the first African American woman to get that award, so it marks an important milestone, making it a great play for our JSU Drama Scripted Studio Series during Black History Month.”

The reading of Topdog/Underdog will take place virtually on Tuesday, February 16 at 7 p.m. CST. A free ticket, which can be acquired here, is necessary to receive the link for the performance. The talkback is also free and will be held virtually on Wednesday, February 17, at 7 p.m. CST and can be reached here.