American Son

American Son on Broadway Background

Playwright Christopher Demos-Brown is a newcomer to Broadway. His previous works have seen success in South Florida theaters, but this is his Broadway debut. As a civil trial attorney in Miami, Demos-Brown provides additional authenticity to the story that other playwrights would not be capable of. American Son made its world premiere at Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, MA in June 2016. The play won the 2016 Laurents/Hatcher Award for Best New Play by an Emerging Playwright.

The Broadway production, runs for only 16 weeks at the Booth Theatre, stars Kerry Washington ("Scandal," Race) as Kendra and Steven Pasquale ("American Crime Story," Junk) as Scott. The cast also includes Eugene Lee (Gem of the Ocean) and Tony nominee Jeremy Jordan ("Supergirl," Newsies). The show is directed by Kenny Leon who won the Tony Award for Best Director of a Play for the 2014 revival of A Raisin in the Sun.

What’s American Son Like?

This gripping new play is a social commentary on race-relations in modern America. The mother, Kendra Ellis-Connor, is a black woman with a PhD in psychology who teaches at a local university. The father, Scott Connor, is a white FBI agent. American Son uses every parent's greatest fear to honestly discuss the relevant issues of race and bias in American culture. Audiences can feel tensions rise as information about their missing son is only revealed slowly and in small pieces. Inspired by recent police shootings of black teenagers, playwright Christopher Demos-Brown felt that such a high-pressure situation was the only time people would speak candidly about race-relations. This thought provoking show is full of raw emotion and American Son is a must-see for anyone who enjoys drama, mystery and a critical social lens.

Is American Son Good for Kids?

The show is recommended for children aged 14 and older, as it contains strong language and adult themes. Children under the aged of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.