Cumberland Theatre is back in business!

American Son” opens October 15th for only five performances

The Cumberland Theatre will be reopening its doors to theatre patrons on October 15th with the award-winning play “American Son.” The show will play for a limited engagement of only five performances over one weekend.

Written by Christopher Demos-Brown, “American Son” tells the story of Kendra and Scott, an estranged interracial couple, stuck in the waiting room of a Florida police station. Over the course of a tense night, the couple’s disparate histories and backgrounds collide as they confront an unexpected crisis involving the police and their missing 18-year old son. The play examines our nation's racial divide through the eyes of both characters as their worst fears hang in the balance.

The play debuted Off-Broadway in 2018 and starred Golden Globe & Emmy winner Kerry Washington and directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon. In 2019, the film version also starring Washington and directed by Leon debuted at the Toronto Film Festival and was later released on Netflix.

At the helm of “American Son” will be guest director Michael Jerome Jordan. Jordan is a director, fight director and actor originally from Washington D.C.. He recently directed, Temp, the winner of the 2020 New Play Festival competition of short plays, hosted by Riot Act, Inc in Jackson Hole. WY. Michael also directing the 2017 winner, Love, Radio and Zombies, Sort Of…

Jordan’s numerous directing credits include And In This Corner: Cassius Clay, co-produced by Childsplay Theatre and Black Theater Troupe in Phoenix, AZ for which he was nominated for Best Director for the 2019 Broadway World Awards, Phoenix. Other notable credits include Karen Zacarias’ first play, Blue Buick in My Driveway for Source Theatre Festival, Athol Fugard’s My Children! My Africa! at Northwestern State University of Louisiana, The Kennedy Center’s second national tour of The Red Badge of Courage, originally directed by Richard Thomas, The Price for National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts, Vito on the Beach and Gospel at Colonus for Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, and Carmen for Young Audiences for Mill City Summer Opera. He also worked for the Folger Shakespeare Festival directing Junior High and High School students in various scenes from Shakespeare.

As an actor, Jordan has performed at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Source Theater Company, Ford’s Theatre, Arena Stage, Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington Stage Guild, Toby’s Dinner Theatre, Theatre of the First Amendment, and The Kennedy Center. Regionally, Michael has performed at Off Square Theatre Company (former company member), Riverside Theatre (Vero Beach, Florida), Delaware Theatre Company, Victory Gardens Theatre, Virginia Shakespeare Festival, Theatre at Lime Kiln, and Maryland Shakespeare Festival. Some of his favorite roles include the title role in Othello (three times), the title role in The Merchant of Venice (Antonio), Capulet in Romeo and Juliet, Astrov in Uncle Vanya, the Devil in The Devil and Tom Walker, Banquo in Macbeth and Don Pedro in Much Ado About Nothing.

As a fight director, Jordan has worked at Arena Stage, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Woolly Mammoth, Ford’s Theatre, Rep Stage, Off Square, Riot Act, Epic Theatre Ensemble, Lady Cavaliers, Source Theatre, Keagan Theatre, and The Kennedy Center to name a few. He taught stage combat at both the Maryland Opera Studio and National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts for eleven years.

“American Son” will be Michael’s first time working at the Cumberland Theatre. “We are thrilled to have Michael on board for this production, “said a theatre spokesperson. “We feel very fortunate to have someone with his talent and credentials to lead us in telling this powerful story in these troubled times.”

Performances for “American Son” will be October 15th, 16th and 17th at 8:00 pm and October 17th and 18th at 2:00 pm. In accordance with COVID-19 guidelines, only 100 tickets will be sold for each performance. Ticket holders will be temperature checked before entering the theatre and masks are required. The show has no intermission. Tickets are available online at www.cumberlandtheatre.com or by calling 301.759.4990. The theatre staff reserves the right to alter ticket reservations to accommodate social distancing if needed.

Please note that “American Son” contains tense and emotional moments that may trigger strong feelings.