| Primary Trust | |
| Setting: | Cranberry Lake, New York 1990s |
| Premiere: | May 4, 2023 |
| Place: | Laura Pels Theatre |
| Orig Lang: | English |
| Genre: | Drama |
Primary Trust is a dramatic stage play written by American playwright Eboni Booth. The production premiered Off-Broadway at the Laura Pels Theatre in 2023 and starred William Jackson Harper who received the Obie Award. The play was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2024.
The play tells the story of Kenneth, a 30-something African-American suburban bookstore worker with an imaginary friend who embarks on a journey of self-discovery. After being laid off from his long-time job, he considers applying for a new one at the Primary Trust Bank.[1] [2]
The play premiered Off-Broadway at the Laura Pels Theatre, produced by the Roundabout Theatre Company, with support from The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater and the Edgerton Foundation. The production was directed by Knud Adams.[3] William Jackson Harper won an Obie Award for distinguished performance, and the play was nominated for Outstanding Play by the Lucille Lortel Awards.[4] [5] [6] He also received nominations for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play and the Drama League Distinguished Performance Award.[7] [8]
The play will premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse as a West Coast premiere, with an anticipated run of Sept 24-Oct 20, 2024, again directed by Knud Adams.[9]
Chicago (2024)
Goodman Theatre in Chicago announced their regional premiere as part of the 2024-25 season.
| Character | Off-Broadway (2023) | La Jolla (2024) | Goodman (2024) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenneth | William Jackson Harper | Caleb Eberhardt | Namir Smallwood | |
| Bert | Eric Berryman | TBA | TBA | |
| Corrina / Others | April Matthis | TBA | TBA | |
| Clay / Others | Jay O. Sanders | TBA | TBA |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | class=unsortable | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [10] | ||||||
| Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play | [11] | |||||
| Distinguished Performance | [12] | |||||
| Outstanding Play | [13] | |||||
| Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play | William Jackson Harper | |||||
| Performance | [14] | |||||
| Sustained Achievement in Design | Mikaal Sulaiman | |||||
| Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play | [15] | |||||
| Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Play | William Jackson Harper | |||||
| Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Play | April Matthis | |||||
| Outstanding Direction of a Play (Broadway or Off-Broadway) | Knud Adams | |||||