Thanksgiving is coming early because the original Broadway cast of Chicken & Biscuits are reuniting for a one-night-only reading November 24 at 7 PM. The reading of Douglas Lyons' comedy will benefit the Queens Theatre in New York, where the play premiered before its 2021 Broadway bow.
Cast members returning to the play include Tony nominee Norm Lewis (The Phantom of the Opera), Emmy nominee Michael Urie (Once Upon a Mattress), Tony nominee Natasha Yvette Williams (Some Like It Hot), Ebony Marshall Oliver (Ain't No Mo'), Dean Acree, and Cleo King. They will be joined Paige Gilbert (The Skin of Our Teeth) and Madison McBride (HBO’s Full Circle).
Zhailon Levingston (CATS: The Jellicle Ball) will return to direct the play that marked his Broadway directorial debut.
"I am beyond thrilled for Chicken & Biscuits to return to the very theatre that delivered its world premiere. Though COVID interrupted our initial run at Queens Theatre, November 24 will be a triumphant celebration of where it all started," said Lyons in a statement.
Chicken & Biscuits follows a family reunion that goes off the rails. The Jenkins family gather to celebrate their deceased patriarch, but then old wounds resurface, secrets spill, and laughter abounds. The play made its Broadway debut in 2021 and has since become a national favorite, with more than 40 productions across the country.
Funded in part by Resorts World New York City and Governor's Ball, the evening’s proceeds will support new play development and theatre programs at Queens Theatre. And there will be chicken and biscuits served at the event for select attendees, catered by a Sylvia’s Restaurant in Harlem.
“Chicken & Biscuits is one of the most joyous success stories to come out of Queens Theatre,” said Taryn Sacramone, Executive Director of Queens Theatre, in a statement. “When we premiered the play in 2020, we knew it was something special—a story that reflected family and connection in a way that resonated deeply with our audiences. To welcome it back with this incredible cast, is a full-circle moment that celebrates the heart of who we are as a theater and as a community.”
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