Primary Trust
{{Short description|2023 play by Eboni Booth}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox play
| name = Primary Trust
| image =
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| caption =
| writer = Eboni Booth
| chorus =
| characters =
| mute =
| setting = Cranberry Lake, New York
1990s
| premiere = May 4, 2023
| place = Laura Pels Theatre
| orig_lang = English
| series =
| subject =
| genre = Drama
| web =
}}
Primary Trust is a dramatic stage play written by American playwright Eboni Booth. The production premiered Off-Broadway at the Laura Pels Theatre in 2023 and starred William Jackson Harper who received the Obie Award. The play was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2024.
== Summary ==
The play tells the story of Kenneth, a 30-something African-American suburban bookstore worker with an imaginary friend who embarks on a journey of self-discovery. After being laid off from his long-time job, he considers applying for a new one at the Primary Trust Bank.[https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/25/theater/primary-trust-review.html New York Times Review - Primary Trust] accessed 05/06/2024[https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/04/theater/best-theater-2023.html Best Theater of 2023 - The New York Times]
Production history
= Off-Broadway (2023) =
The play premiered Off-Broadway at the Laura Pels Theatre, produced by the Roundabout Theatre Company, with support from The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater and the Edgerton Foundation. The production was directed by Knud Adams.{{Cite web|url=https://circle.tcg.org/edgertonfoundationnewplayawards/2022/primary-trust|title=Primary Trust - Edgerton Foundation New Play Awards|website=circle.tcg.org}} William Jackson Harper won an Obie Award for distinguished performance, and the play was nominated for Outstanding Play by the Lucille Lortel Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.americantheatre.org/2024/04/17/eboni-booth-on-primary-trust-only-connect/|title=Eboni Booth on 'Primary Trust': Only Connect|first=Branden|last=Jacobs-Jenkins|date=April 17, 2024|website=AMERICAN THEATRE}}{{Cite web|url=https://playbill.com/article/eboni-booths-primary-trust-opens-off-broadway-may-25|title=Eboni Booth's Primary Trust Opens Off-Broadway May 25 | Playbill}}[http://www.iobdb.com/Production/7106 Off-Broadway Database Listing] accessed 05/06/2024 He also received nominations for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play and the Drama League Distinguished Performance Award.[https://playbill.com/article/sarah-paulson-wins-drama-league-award-see-the-full-list-of-winners Sarah Paulson Wins Drama League Award; See the Full List of Winners|Playbill][https://playbill.com/article/stereophonic-leads-2024-drama-desk-awards-with-7-wins-including-outstanding-play Stereophonic Leads 2024 Drama Desk Awards With 7 Wins Including Outstanding Play|Playbill]
= Signature Theatre (2024) =
The play received its regional premiere at Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA, running from Sept 10-Oct 20, 2024 in the ARK Theatre.{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
= Barrington Stage Company (2024) =
The closing play of the season at Barrington Stage Company, the play ran from Sept 18–Oct 13, 2024 at the St. Germain Stage in Pittsfield, MA.{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
= La Jolla Playhouse (2024) =
The play premiered at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, as a West Coast premiere, with a run of Sept 24-Oct 20, 2024, again directed by Knud Adams.{{cite web|title=Primary Trust|website=La Jolla Playhouse|date=November 19, 2024|url=https://lajollaplayhouse.org/show/primary-trust/|ref={{sfnref|La Jolla Playhouse|2024}}|access-date=December 8, 2024}}
= Chicago (2024) =
The Goodman Theatre in Chicago announced the play's regional premiere as part of the 2024-25 season.{{cite web|title=2024/2025 Season|website=Goodman Theatre|date=October 24, 2024|url=https://www.goodmantheatre.org/2024-2025-season/|access-date=December 8, 2024}} It ran from October 5 to November 3, 2024.
= Seattle (2024) =
The play ran at the Seattle Repertory Theatre from October 24 to November 27, 2024. It was directed by Kaytlin McIntyre.{{cite web|title=Primary Trust|website=Seattle Rep|date=March 13, 2019|url=https://www.seattlerep.org/plays/202425-season/primary-trust/|ref={{sfnref|Seattle Rep|2019}}|access-date=December 8, 2024}}
Cincinnati, OH (2025)
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's production of Primary Trust, co-produced with McCarter Theatre Center, was directed by Timothy Douglas and ran February 1-23, 2025.{{Cite web |title=PRIMARY TRUST |url=https://www.cincyplay.com/productions/PRIMARY-TRUST |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=cin |language=en}}
= Baltimore, MD (2025) =
Everyman Theatre, Baltimore announced their production will be directed by Reginald L. Douglas and run February 2-March 2, 2025.{{cite web|title=Everyman Theatre's 2024/2025 Season|website=Everyman Theatre|date=September 16, 2024|url=https://everymantheatre.org/2024-2025/|ref={{sfnref|Everyman Theatre|2024}}|access-date=December 8, 2024}}
= Vancouver, Canada (2025) =
The Arts Club Theatre Company announced their production of Primary Trust will be directed by Ashlie Corcoran, and run February 6–March 2, 2025.{{cite web|title=PRIMARY TRUST, Granville Island Stage|website=Arts Club Theatre Company|url=https://artsclub.com/shows/2024-2025/primary-trust|access-date=December 8, 2024}}
= Houston, Texas (2025) =
Alley Theatre announced their production of Primary Trust will be directed by Niegel Smith, and run May 2-May 25, 2025.{{Cite web |last=Downing |first=Margaret |title=Alley Theatre Announces its 2024-25 Season — Classy, Classic and Comic |url=https://www.houstonpress.com/arts/alley-theatre-announces-its-2024-25-season-17588399 |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=Houston Press |language=en}}
= Dallas, TX (2025) =
Dallas Theater Center announced their production of Primary Trust will be directed by Sasha Maya Ada and run February 27 through March 23, 2025.{{cite web|title=PRIMARY TRUST,Dallas Theater Center|website = Dallas Theater Center| url=https://dallastheatercenter.org/shows/primary-trust/|access-date=February 6, 2025}}
= Burlington, VT (2025) =
Vermont Stage Company's production of Primary Trust was directed Jammie Patton and ran March 19-April 6, 2025.{{Cite web |title=Primary Trust |url=https://www.vermontstage.org/primary-trust.html |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Vermont Stage |language=en}}
Princeton, NJ (2025)
McCarter Theatre Center's production of Primary Trust, co-produced by Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, was directed by Timothy Douglas and ran May 8-25, 2025.{{Cite web |title=Primary Trust |url=https://www.mccarter.org/event-primary-trust |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=McCarter |language=en-US}}
Original cast and characters
| class="wikitable" style="width:50%; text-align:center"
!scope="col"|Character !Off-Broadway (2023) !Signature (2024) !La Jolla (2024) !Goodman (2024) !Everyman (2025) !Alley Theatre (2025) |
| Kenneth
| colspan="1" |William Jackson Harper | colspan="1" |Julius Thomas III | colspan="1" |Caleb Eberhardt | colspan="1" |Namir Smallwood | colspan="1" |RJ Brown |Stanley Andrew Jackson |
|---|
| Bert
| colspan="1" |Eric Berryman | colspan="1" |Frank Britton | colspan="1" |James Udom | colspan="1" |Charles Andrew Gardner | colspan="1" |Louis E. Davis |David Rainey |
| Corrina / Others
| colspan="1" |April Matthis | colspan="1" |Yesenia Iglesias | colspan="1" |Rebecca S'Manga Frank | colspan="1" |Christiana Clark | colspan="1" |Andreá Bellamore |Michelle Elaine |
| Clay / Others
| colspan="1" |Jay O. Sanders | colspan="1" |Craig Wallace | colspan="1" |James Urbaniak | colspan="1" |Fred Zimmerman | colspan="1" |Jefferson A. Russell |
Awards and nominations
= 2023 Off-Broadway production =
External links
- {{Official website| https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/96908/primary-trust}}