LOS ANGELES PREMIERE
MARCH 12-APRIL 18, 2022
Previews: March 9-11; Opens March 12th

The Echo Theater Company presents an irreverent, darkly funny coming-of-age story that explores racial identity, privilege and pop culture with insight, passion and biting humor.

Marquis and Tru are both 14-year-old Black boys, but they exist in two completely different worlds. Marquis is a book smart prep-schooler living in the affluent suburb of Achievement Heights, while Tru is a street savvy kid from deep within the inner city of Baltimore. Their worlds overlap one day in a holding cell. Tru decides that Marquis has lost his “blackness” and pens a how-to manual entitled “Being Black for Dummies.” He assumes the role of professor, but Marquis proves to be a reluctant pupil. They butt heads, debate, wrestle and ultimately prove that Nietzsche and 2pac were basically saying the same thing.

CAST:
Tasha Ames
Clare Margaret Donovan
Vincent Doud
Aleisha Force
Ezekiel Goodman
Brent Grimes
Robert Hart
Betsy Stewart
Jalen K. Stewart

produced by Kelly Beech, Chris Fields, Charrell Mack, Rachael Zambias
scenic design by Song Yi Park
costume design- Elena Flores
lighting design- Matt Richter
sound design- Alysha Grace Bermudez
production stage manager- Danielle Jaramillo
assistant lighting designer- Hayden Kirschbaum
casting director- Tal Fox
publicist- Lucy Pollark