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Broke-ology

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Broke-ology Calendar

For additional information, or to place an order call 816-235-2700.

Dates and Plays are Subject to Change

"Jackson's a talented writer

who has brought a corner of

this community to life

on stage in a way nobody else has."

 

ldsfjsdlkfjsdlkjfsdlkfjsdlkfjsldjf - Kansas City Star

"moving... director Kyle Hatley and his crew achieve that rare wholeness"

dlfjkdsalkfjsdlkfjdslkjflsdjfls - The Pitch

"an affectionate new comic drama!"

laksdflskdjflksdjflksdjfsdjfls - Sun Publications

"a sensitive, illuminating piece of theater"

lskdfjlsdjfsdlkkfjsdlkfjsldkjfsdlk - KC Confidential

"Jackson is a brisk writer, with a natural air for characters and a melodious ear for natural dialogue"

dlkfjdslkfjsdlkjflsdkjflsdkjflkjlk - KC Tribune

"Jackson’s brilliant writing gives a very natural voice to the characters and especially captures the delicate balance between resentment, competition and love between the two brothers."

djflsdjfsldkkjfsdlkjfdjflsdjffs - KC Free Press

"Truly, this is a play for our times."

sldfjewoiurffawoeijfweoiuwo- The Examiner

"unique storyline with fresh perspective and with a sensitive, riveting climax"

sldfkjadslkkfjsdlkjfsldkjfsldkjf - KC Metropolis

"beautifully poignant, powerful story about an African-American family living in Kansas City, KS"

sldkfjsdlsfjsdlikfjlsdkjflskdjfl - InfoZine

"easily one of the top productions I have seen

this season."

ldskfjsdlfjssdfdldkfjlksmnbdjf - Lost in Reviews

"This play felt more real to me than any other I have ever seen."

asdlkfjlsdkfjlsdkfjlkssdjflksdj- UMKC UNews

Part of the Sprint Series at

Copaken Stagedf

February 19-March 21, 2010

 

Written by Nathan Louis Jackson
Directed by Kyle Hatley

Corporate Sponsor


 

 

As the Rep grows in national stature, we are also growing deeper roots in our city. A new initiative will tell the stories of our city by artists from our region. This season, we are proud to present two productions that explore Kansas City from two decidedly different points of view, Broke-ology and Bus Stop.

In this emotionally powerful new work, Kansas City, Kansas playwright Nathan Jackson — trained at Juilliard but true to his Kansas City roots — has turned to his hometown as the setting for this absorbing family drama. Meet the King family, an African-American family living in a lower middle class neighborhood in KCK. The King family is used to being broke, but when their father is diagnosed with a serious illness, sons Ennis and Malcolm must clearly decide where their loyalties lie. Malcolm is the first in his family to attend college, a testament to his mother, who died when the boys were young but not before passing on her ambitions for them to have a better life. Ennis, who stayed behind, has become a scholar of “broke-ology,” the study of being broke and staying alive. Now, with his father sick and his brother urging him to stay, Malcolm struggles to decide whether it is best to stay or go. This powerful new play by a brilliant young writer brings new perspectives on the struggles of the next generation in our city.

“thematically rich, structurally deft, and emotionally complex.” – The Boston Globe

Contains Strong Language and Adult Themes.

 

NATHAN LOUIS JACKSON - PLAYWRIGHT

Jackson attended Kansas State University and trained at The Juilliard School. In addition to Broke-ology, he has written When I Come to Die, The Mancherios and The Last Black Play. He has participated in The Kennedy Center Summer Playwriting Intensive, the William Inge 24-Hour Play Festival, Ebony Theater’s “The Word” (monthly poetry slam) and was on the Kansas State University Speech Team. He is a two-time AFA Prose Interpretation champion, a two-time Lorraine Hansberry Playwriting Award winner, a Mark Twain Comedy Playwriting Award winner and a recipient of the Kennedy Center’s Gold Medallion. He currently is writing for NBC’s “Southland”.

 

 

KYLE HATLEY - DIRECTOR

Kyle Hatley is the Assistant Artistic Director of Kansas City Repertory Theatre. Having previously worked in Chicago, where he was the assistant director and script supervisor for Moisés Kaufman, Emily Mann, Gary Griffin and Eric Rosen for About Face Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre and Chicago Children’s Theatre. Mr. Hatley’s directing credits include And Baby Makes Seven, Third, No Exit, Seascape, Oliver!, Death and the Maiden, The Laramie Project and Romeo and Juliet, among others. In Kansas City, Mr. Hatley wrote and directed Watering the Grave and Six at the 2008 KC Fringe Festival and The Death of Cupid at the 2009 KC Fringe Festival, Hamlet (Studio 116 at UMKC), co-directed Desperate Times-Desperate Measures at Off Center Theatre with Ron Simonian. Last season at the Rep he directed The Borderland at Copaken Stage and performed in The Glass Menagerie as “The Gentleman Caller”. He is the artistic director of Chatterbox Audio Theater and recently won the Silver Ogle Award for excellence in audio theatre for his original series The Dead Girl. His new audio series, Surfacing, released its final episode in July. He holds a degree in theatre from Rhodes College.

Untitled Document

Watch a Broke-ology preview and other videos from Director Kyle Hatley and Creative Director Eric Rosen:

  • Watch the
    Broke-ology Preview
  • Director Kyle Hatley
    talks about Broke-ology
  • Eric Rosen tallks
    about Broke-ology
  • Eric Rosen tallks about
    Broke-ology & Bus-stop