Overview
Barbecue centers on around the O’Mallerys, a dysfunctional group of siblings who come together for a park barbeque in order to stage an emergency intervention for their sister Barbara, whose drug habit has gotten out of hand. However, there are in fact two O’Mallery families, one white and one black. Each appear in different, yet similar scenes that juxtapose to create a dialogue about racial and family politics.
Casting & Production
Casting:
8F, 2M
JAMES T: white male 40/50ish
LILLIE ANNE: white female 50/60ish
BARBARA/ZIPPITY BOOM: white female 30/40ish
MARIE: white female 40/50ish
ADLEAN: white female 40/50ish
JAMES T: black male
LILLIE ANNE: black female
BARBARA: black female
MARIE: black female
ADLEAN: black female
It is VERY IMPORTANT that there be No Attempt to make either cast look (physically) like the other, besides wearing the same Costume.
Production Notes:
Barbecue had its world premiere at The Public Theater Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Patrick Willingham, Executive Director in New York, on October 8, 2015, The play was directed by Kent Gash Barbecue was commissioned by Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago (Martha Lavey, Artistic Director; David Hawkansom, Executive Director)
