The Book of Grace: Public announces full cast



The Public Theater has announced complete casting for the world premiere of Suzan-Lori Parks' The Book Of Grace, directed by James Macdonald.

The complete cast will feature Amari Cheatom as 'Buddy,' John Doman as 'Vet,' and the previously announced Elizabeth Marvel as 'Grace.' The Book Of Grace opens at the Public's Anspacher Theater on 16 Mar 2010, following previews from 2 Mar and runs through to 4 Apr 2010.

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks (Topdog/Underdog) has drawn a family portrait shattered by issues of rage, revenge, power and betrayal. When a young man returns home to South Texas to confront his father, everyday life erupts into a battle for personal survival. The Book Of Grace weaves the story of three people bound together by love and longing, passion and ambition. Currently, Parks is the Master Writer Chair at The Public Theater.

"This is a superb cast of actors. The Book Of Grace is in good hands," said Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis.

Amari Cheatom (Buddy) recently appeared at the Signature Theater Company in the title role of Charles Fuller's 'Zooman and the Sign.' His other credits include 'Origin Story' and 'When January Feels Like Summer' at the Sundance Theater Festival and a lead role in the film 'Giver Taker Heartbreaker,' written and directed by Christopher Arcella. He will co-star with Anthony Mackie and Kerry Washington in Tanya Hamilton's upcoming film 'Night Catches Us.'

John Doman (Vet) was last seen off-Broadway in Lyle Kessler's 'Robbers' at the American Place Theatre. He is most familiar to TV audiences from his performance as 'Acting Commissioner William A. Rawls' on all five seasons of HBO's critically acclaimed series "The Wire." His other television credits include recurring roles on "E.R.," "Oz," "CSI," and "Damages" and a total of nine different roles on "Law & Order" and "Law & Order: SVU." His film credits include 'Mystic River,' 'Die Hard: With a Vengeance,' 'Cop Land,' 'Beavis and Butt-Head Do America,' 'Mercury Rising,' 'City by the Sea' and 'Lonely Hearts.'

Suzan-Lori Parks (Playwright) plays include '365 Days/365 Plays,' 'Topdog/Underdog '(2002 Pulitzer Prize; Public Theater), 'Fucking A' (Public Theater), 'Imperceptible Mutabilities in the Third Kingdom '(1990 Obie Award for Best New American Play), 'The America Play' (Public Theater), 'Venus' (Public Theater, 1996 Obie Award), 'The Death Of The Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World,' and 'In The Blood' (Public Theater, 2002 Pulitzer Prize finalist), among others. 'Her Father Comes Homes From The Wars' (Parts 1, 8 & 9) premiered at the Public's Public LAB last season.

James McDonald (Director) most recently directed 'Drunk Enough to Say I Love You?' at The Public Theater and 'Top Girls' at Manhattan Theater Club. His other New York credits include Christopher Shinn's 'Dying City' at Lincoln Center and Caryl Churchill's 'A Number' at New York Theater Workshop. His recent London credits include 'The Hour We Knew Nothing Of Each Other' at the National, the West End revival of 'Glengarry Glen Ross' (with Jonathan Pryce) and 'Drunk Enough To Say I Love You?' at the Royal Court. From 1992 to 2006, Macdonald was associate director of the Royal Court.'

Elizabeth Marvel (Grace) last appeared at The Public in Doug Hughes's production of 'Henry V' at Shakespeare in the Park. Her other Public credits include 'Troilus and Cressida,' 'King Lear,' and 'Silence, Cunning, Exile.' She has appeared on Broadway in 'Top Girls,' 'An American Daughter,' 'Taking Sides,' and 'The Seagull.' Her Off-Broadway credits include 'Terrorism '(New Group), 'A Secondhand Memory' (Atlantic Theater Company), 'Hedda Gabler' (Obie Award), 'Lydie Breeze,' 'Alice in Bed,' 'A Streetcar Named Desire' (Obie Award), to name a few.

Amari CheatomJohn Doman

Originally published on

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