Alliance Theatre and Goodman Theatre have announced the cast and creative team for BUST, a powerful world-premiere co-production written by Pulitzer Prize finalist Zora Howard.
Directed by Tony Award nominee Lileana Blain-Cruz, BUST is a bold, genre-blending drama that tackles the complexities of community, conflict, and the enduring impact of historical racism.
The play will make its debut at the Coca-Cola Stage at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta from Feb. 13 to March 16, before heading to the Goodman’s Albert Theatre in Chicago from April 19 to May 18.
BUST follows Retta and Reggie as they unwind on their porch when a familiar neighbor is pulled over by the police before turning into his driveway.
What begins as an ordinary moment quickly turns into something much more surprising.
The play weaves humor, suspense, and surrealism into a gripping narrative about the costs of Black freedom in today’s world.
Howard said she grew up listening to her mother and aunties share stories about the challenges they faced, always with a mix of raw honesty and humor.
“It takes a lot to be Black and walk this life. There is some real ugly stuff that we have to navigate. And yet there is an artfulness to how we move through it – with humor, with deftness, with style. BUST is a meditation on and an homage to that movement,” she said.
The cast includes Mark Bedard as Tomlin/Jack, Cecil Blutcher as Trent, Renika Williams Blutcher as Krystal, Caroline Stefanie Clay as Retta, Bernard Gilbert as Zeke, Caitlin Hargraves as Ms. Pinto, Jorge Luna as Ramirez, Victoria Omoregie as Paige, Keith Randolph Smith as Mr. Woods, Ray Anthony Thomas as Reggie, and Ivan Cecil Walks as Boobie.
A team of production understudies will also be involved.
The creative team is led by director Lileana Blain-Cruz, with Associate Director Malkia Stampley, Set Designer Matt Saunders, Costume Designer Dominique Fawn Hill, Lighting Designer Yi Zhao, Sound Designer Mikaal Sulaiman, and Special Effects Designer Jeremy Chernick, among others.
Blain-Cruz spoke about the emotional depth of BUST, emphasizing the play’s invitation to audiences to experience something unique.
“There’s this kind of really amazing, thrilling, complicated emotional journey that happens at the center of this play,” she said.
“What I love about theater is knowing that there are a million individual stories existing inside the audience.”
Audiences have the opportunity to understand something new or see themselves being seen, Blain-Cruz added.
Tickets for BUST are now available in-person at the Alliance Theatre Box Office, by phone at (404) 733-4600, or by visiting their website.
