Public Lab season announces 2 productions: 'Juan and John' & 'Neighbors'

The Public Thater has announced that its 2009/10 Public Lab season will present two world premiere: Juan and John by Roger Guenveur Smith and, Neighbors by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.

Now in its third year, Public LAB allows audiences to see important new plays for only $10, cheaper than the price of a movie ticket. Tickets for Juan and John go on-sale on 22 Oct 2009.

"In two short years Public LAB has become an indispensable part of The Public Theater's mission and profile," said Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis. "These two plays are adventurous, daring and theatrically explosive new works, and I am delighted we can bring them to our audience."

"We are delighted to be launching our third season of Public LAB with two thrilling playwrights," said Associate Artistic Director Mandy Hackett. "We are excited to welcome Roger's singular artistry back to The Public, and we are equally excited to introduce Branden, a fiercely talented up-and-coming writer making his debut with an incredibly original and powerful look at race in America."

• Juan and John (World Premiere)
  Created and Performed by Roger Guenveur Smith
  Sound and Video by Marc Anthony Thompson
  Dates: 1 - 20 Dec 2009
  Press opening: 13 Dec 2009

  Synopsis: It's 1965 and there's a riot going on. Watts and Vietnam are burning. So is La Republica Dominicana. In San Francisco, it's the Giants vs. the Dodgers. Juan Marichal vs. John Roseboro. Cain vs. Abel. Roger Guenveur Smith and Marc Anthony Thompson, the Obie-winning creators of 'A Huey P. Newton Story,' return to The Public with new work inspired by ancient themes: rage, retribution, and redemption.

Roger Guenveur Smith (Playwright) is an actor, writer, and director. At The Public, he created and performed the OBIE Award-winning 'A Huey P. Newton Story,' which was later adapted into a Peabody Award-winning telefilm directed by Spike Lee. In Lee's Oscar-nominated 'Do The Right Thing,' Smith created the stuttering hero 'Smiley.' Among his historically-inspired theatrical performances are F'rederick Douglass Now,' 'Christopher Columbus 1992,' and the award-winning 'Inside the Creole Mafia,' created in collaboration with New Orleans native Mark Broyard.

• Neighbors (World Premiere)
  Written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
  Directed by Niegel Smith
  Dates: 16 Feb - 7 Mar 2010
  Press opening: tba

  Synopsis: Have you seen the new neighbors? Richard Patterson is not happy. The family of black actors that has moved in next door is loud, tacky, shameless, and uncouth. And they are not just infiltrating his neighborhood—they threaten his reputation, his family, and his comfortably progressive lifestyle. This explosive play on race marks the major debut of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, a member of the Public's Emerging Writers Group.

Branden Jacobs-jenkins (Playwright) full-length plays include 'The Change,' 'Neighbors,' 'Zoo,' and 'Heart!!!.' He is currently a member of The Public Theater's Emerging Writers Group. His work has been seen and/or developed at The Public Theater, the New York Theatre Workshop, Soho Rep, PS122, the 2008 and 2009 Prelude Festivals, Princeton University/McCarter Theatre, and Links Hall in Chicago. He is a former playwriting fellow at the New York Theatre Workshop, an alum of the Soho Rep Writer/Director Lab, and a member of the ArsNova Playgroup.

Niegel Smith (Director) recently completed a TCG New Generations Fellowship as Artistic Leadership Associate at The Public Theater, and is a founding member of 425D, a director's lab. His New York directing credits include 'Ether Steeds' (Fringe Award - Best Ensemble), 'We Declare You a Terrorist,' 'Rainy Days & Mondays,' 'Maud- The Madness,' 'One For The Road' and 'LIMBS: A Pageant.' He is Associate Director to Bill T. Jones on the new musical 'FELA!' and has assisted directors Jo Bonney, James Lapine, Kristin Marting, Richard Nelson and George C. Wolfe.

In its first two years, Public LAB has produced a diverse range of works by emerging and established playwrights, including 'Mom, How Did You Meet The Beatles?' by Adrienne Kennedy, 'The Poor Itch' by John Belluso, 'Paris Commune' by Steven Cosson and Michael Friedman, 'The Fever Chart' by Naomi Wallace, 'The Good Negro' by Tracey Scott Wilson, 'Penalties and Interest' by Rebecca Cohen, 'Sweet Storm' by Scott Hudson, 'Philip Roth in Khartoum' by David Bar Katz, 'Tales of an Urban Indian' by Darrell Dennis, 'Knives and Other Sharp Objects' by Raúl Castillo, 'Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson' by Alex Timbers and Michael Friedman, and 'Father Comes Home From The Wars (Parts 1, 8 & 9)' by Suzan-Lori Parks.