The world premiere of playwright Phaedra Michelle Scott’s “Plantation Black,” is taking the stage at InterAct Theatre Company through March 1.
The play, directed by Kimille Howard, follows a Civil War-era plantation family’s white and Black descendants as they experience historical repetition, the complexities of national history and the exploration of Black American identity.
“Plantation Black is a story about how messy and beautiful it is to be in a family, how miraculously strange it is to be American and how difficult it can be to do the right thing,” Scott said.
One striking feature of the production is its unpredictability. Each night, the sequence of the story is left to chance. Twenty minutes before curtain, a cast member spins a drum containing the names of every scene, where a pie-chart graphic shows how the six scenes progress clockwise.
The “randomized” timeline forces an immediate confrontation with the echoes of the past. While scenes stay the same, the raffle dictates where each show starts and ends. This ensures a unique chronological journey for every audience, as well as a dramatic and exciting storyline for each performance.
InterAct Theatre Company invites theatergoers to arrive early to witness the draw and experience this groundbreaking play for themselves.
Additionally, weekend performances will include post-show Q&As with artists and experts.
Tickets begin at $20 and can be purchased online at interacttheatre.org. “Plantation Black” features cast members DeAnna Supplee, Trevor William Fayle, Tymothee Harrell, Lenny Daniels, Eli Lynn and Hannah Parke.
InterAct Theatre Company is located in Center City at The Drake on South Hicks Street. For more information on “Plantation Black,” visit interacttheatre.org.
InterAct Theatre Company is part of the Metro Philadelphia sponsored content program called Spotlight.
