Lakewood Playhouse “Topdog/Underdog”

Friday, February 19th, 2027 thru Sunday, March 7th, 2027
Time: 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Cost: Call Venue for details Indoor

“You know, I used to think, what if I had opted out of the game, just once.  Just let somebody else take the hit.”

What does it take to rewrite the story you’ve been handed?  In Topdog/Underdog, Suzan-Lori Parks crafts a darkly comic and deeply human exploration of brotherhood, identity, and the weight of history.  Lincoln and Booth – two brothers burdened with names that echo a violent past – navigate a world shaped by rivalry, survival, and the longing for something more.  As their lives intertwine in a fragile dance of humor and heartbreak, they are forced to confront who they are, who they’ve been told to be, and who they might still become.

Topdog/Underdog is a bold, thought-provoking story that ignites empathy and dialogue, this Pulitzer Prize-winning play examines the quiet and explosive acts of heroism required to break cycles and claim agency over one’s own narrative.  Sometimes the bravest act is choosing a different ending.

Topdog/Underdog is the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Outer Critics Circle Award.  In 2023, it won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play. 

“…Topdog/Underdog feels as vital and electric today as it did 20 years ago.” – Variety 

“…it’s tough, it’s gritty, it’s lyrical, it’s beautiful, it’s poetry.” – Entertainment Weekly

By Suzan-Lori Parks

CAST
TBA

​​CREATIVE TEAM
Director – Jos N. Banks

February 19-March 7, 2027

  • Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2:00pm​
  • American Sign Language Interpreted Performance – Saturday, February 27th at 7:30pm
  • Pay What You Can/Industry Night – Sunday, February 28th at 7:30pm