Kate Taney-Billingsley's American Rot will make its world premiere at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club next month. Estelle Parsons will direct the new play, which will run at the downtown theatre beginning March 14. An official opening night is slated for March 18.

The work examines two men from historically-linked families meeting face-to-face at a diner on the New Jersey Turnpike. One is a descendant of the once-enslaved Dred Scott, the other a descendant of the Supreme Court Chief Justice who wrote the notorious Dred Scott decision that denied enslaved people basic human rights, and is regarded as the worst decision made by the U.S. Supreme Court in American history. As they drink coffee together, the two men peel back the layers of the injustice that has persisted for centuries.

The work is inpsired by Taney-Billingsley's own family background, as the playwright is a descendant of the aforementioned Supreme Court judge, Roger Taney. She has collaborated with Lynne M. Jackson, the great-great-granddaughter of Dred Scott, and President and Founder of the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation. Music is by Taney-Billingsley, Tyler Bernhardt, and Dag Markhus, with lyrics by Taney-Billingsley.

The cast will include Count Stovall, John L. Payne, Francisco Solorzano, Suzanne DiDonna, Myla Pitt, Richarda Abrams, Aprella Godfrey-Barule, Deanna Supplee, Lawrence Stallings, Jason Furlani, Timothy Doyle, Leland Gantt, Lash Dooley, and Burnadair Lipscomb-Hunt.

The production will feature choreography by William Whitener, set design by Christina Weppener, lighting by Victor En Yu Tan, costume design by Molly Maginnis, and sound design by Elisabeth Weidner and Samantha Palumbo.

For tickets and more information, visit here.