GOOD BONES
New York Premiere
GOOD BONES
By James Ijames
Directed by Saheem Ali
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright James Ijames explores gentrification and the growing price of the American dream in his sharp, funny new play, GOOD BONES. A work opportunity to revitalize the blighted neighborhood she grew up in has led Aisha and her chef husband Travis to buy and renovate a charming old house. But as everyone knows, renovation is expensive and stressful—both for buildings and the communities that surround them. Aisha’s young contractor Earl grew up in the area too, but his memories are of more than just dangerous streets and hollowed-out homes. When their purely professional relationship gives way to heated debate about who gets to stay and who must go, Aisha is forced to reckon with the choices she’s made to get ahead and the painful, joyful, complicated ghosts that haunt her dreams… and her dream house. The Public’s Associate Artistic Director Saheem Ali directs this New York premiere new play about community, change, and the soul of our cities.  
CALENDAR.
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THU 09/19
7:30 PM
Joseph Papp Free Performance
FRI 09/20 7:30 PM
SAT 09/21 7:30 PM
SUN 09/22 7:30 PM
TUE 09/24
7:30 PM
Partner Night
WED 09/25
7:00 PM
Young Partner Night
THU 09/26 7:30 PM
FRI 09/27 7:30 PM
SAT 09/28 1:30 PM
SAT 09/28 7:30 PM
SUN 09/29 1:30 PM
SUN 09/29 7:30 PM
TUE 10/01
7:00 PM
Opening Night
WED 10/02 7:30 PM
THU 10/03 7:30 PM
FRI 10/04
7:30 PM
Black Theater Night
SAT 10/05
1:30 PM
Open Caption
SAT 10/05 7:30 PM
SUN 10/06
1:30 PM
Audio Described
SUN 10/06 7:30 PM
TUE 10/08 7:30 PM
WED 10/09
7:30 PM
Amex Night
THU 10/10
7:30 PM
American Sign Language (ASL)
FRI 10/11 7:30 PM
SAT 10/12 1:30 PM
SAT 10/12 7:30 PM
SUN 10/13
1:30 PM
Mask Required Performance
SUN 10/13 7:30 PM
TUE 10/15 7:30 PM
WED 10/16 7:30 PM
THU 10/17 7:30 PM
FRI 10/18 7:30 PM
SAT 10/19 1:30 PM
SAT 10/19 7:30 PM
SUN 10/20 1:30 PM
SUN 10/20 7:30 PM
TUE 10/22 7:30 PM
WED 10/23 7:30 PM
THU 10/24 7:30 PM
FRI 10/25 7:30 PM
SAT 10/26 1:30 PM
SAT 10/26 7:30 PM
SUN 10/27 1:30 PM
SUN 10/27 7:30 PM
Pricing
Tickets are $105*
Public Supporter and Partner tickets are $85
*The listed ticket price includes a $10 per ticket service fee. When purchasing at the Taub Box Office, the service fee is waived. Fee is waived for Public Theater Supporters & Partners tickets.
Best availability starting October 15. Please note the role of Aisha will be played by Nedra Marie Taylor beginning October 26.
Take advantage of Priority Access periods, savings on tickets, and a host of other benefits. At the same time, you'll be providing vital support in the creation of the art, music, and theater available in your 24/25 season. Join in today.
- Saturday, October 5, 1:30PM: Open Captioned Performance
- Sunday, October 6, 1:30PM: Audio Described Performance
- Thursday, October 10, 7:30PM: American Sign Language Interpreted Performance
- Sunday, October 13, 1:30PM: Mask Required Performance
Learn more about Accessibility Services for People with Disabilities. If you have additional questions, need assistance or an accommodation, please feel free to speak to a member of our staff at any point during your visit or contact us at [email protected].
Join us on October 4 at 7:30PM for Black Theater Night. We invite all Black community members to join us. The performance will be followed by a discussion panel in the theater, featuring Salamishah Tillet as moderator, and James Ijames, Saheem Ali, Xochitl Gonzalez, Council Members Chi Ossé and Carlina Rivera as panelists. Following the panel, join us for a reception on the Levin Mezzanine with light refreshments.
Use code GBBTN to unlock tickets for this performance. Email [email protected] to learn more.
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PRODUCTION DETAILS.
Content and Production Effect Warning
Production effects and content sensitivities vary from person to person, and we encourage you to contact us ([email protected] or 212.967.7555) if you have questions about any production. GOOD BONES contains flashing lights.
Dive Deeper
- Access the GOOD BONES Playbill
Cast.
Aaron J. Anderson
Understudy
AARON J. ANDERSON (Understudy). NY: MUD: or when things get messy and how we live with it (Connelly Theater); The Brother’s Size; Fucking A (Columbia University). Regional: Passover (Echo Theatre). Television/Film: “All-American” (The CW); War Paint (Sundance); Cap (HBO short). He is a graduate of the Columbia MFA Acting Program ’24. He’d like to thank God, his mother, grandmother and family for their love and support, and to honor his late father and uncle in this performance.
Mamoudou Athie
Travis
MAMOUDOU ATHIE (Travis) is an Emmy-nominated actor based in LA. Athie was last seen in Kinds of Kindness (Searchlight). He also recently wrapped Wardriver for writer-director Becca Thomas. Last year, Athie was seen in Maggie Betts’ The Burial (Amazon Prime Video). Athie also led Pixar’s Elemental (Golden Globe nomination) and recorded a supporting role for Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron, which was also nominated for a Golden Globe. He has starred in Colin Trevorrow’s Jurassic World: Dominion and the James Wan-produced Netflix series “Archive 81.” Additional credits include Prentice Penny’s feature “Uncorked” (Netflix), Black Box (Amazon and Blumhouse), Jason Reitman’s The Front Runner, James Ponsoldt’s Facebook series “Sorry For Your Loss,” Netflix’s Unicorn Store, the breakout Sundance hit Patti Cake$, and Baz Luhrmann’s Netflix series “The Get Down.”​ Athie was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Actor in A Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for his role in “Oh Jerome, No” (FX). He is a graduate from Yale School of Drama’s MFA program and was given the Rising Star honor at TIFF in 2017.
Khris Davis
Earl
KHRIS DAVIS (Earl) played the title role in Sony’s biopic Big George Foreman opposite Forest Whitaker, who played his mentor/boxing trainer Doc Broadus. Davis played the heartbreaking role of “Biff Loman” in the acclaimed Broadway production of Death of a Salesman with Wendell Pierce and Sharon D. Clarke. He made his New York stage debut in Marco Ramirez’s The Royale at Lincoln Center Theater. Loosely based on the life of Jack Johnson, his performance garnered him a Clive Barnes Award, an Obie Award and a Theatre World Award for Best Actor. He also starred in the Off-Broadway and Broadway productions of the Tony-nominated Pulitzer Prize-winning Lynn Nottage play Sweat and Atlantic Theater Company’s production of Fireflies with DeWanda Wise. Davis recurred on FX’s award-winning “Atlanta” opposite Donald Glover and for which he received a SAG Award nomination as part of the ensemble. His feature credits include Kathryn Bigelow’s Detroit, Space Jam: A New Legacy with LeBron James, and the Oscar-nominated Judas and The Black Messiah.
Téa Guarino
Carmen
TÉA GUARINO (Carmen) is so grateful to be making her Public debut! Guarino is a recent graduate of Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers, where she holds her BFA in Acting (’23). Favorite credits: A Hundred Words for Snow (Connecticut Repertory Theatre), Antony and Cleopatra (Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre). TV: “Law and Order: SVU.” Guarino wants to give thanks to everyone at HCKR, Matthew Lesher and her amazing parents who have always believed in her. @teaguarino_
Nedra Marie Taylor
Aisha
NEDRA MARIE TAYLOR (Aisha starting 10/26) holds an MFA from the Actors Studio Drama School. Broadway: The Book of Mormon (Eugene O’Neill); Marvin's Room (Roundabout). Off-Broadway: The House that Will Not Stand (NYTW); The Underlying Chris (2nd Stage); Mr. Burns, and A Life (Playwrights Horizons); Lost Lake (MTC). TV: “Rose Callaway on Invasion” (Apple TV+), “Brilliant Minds,” “Elsbeth,” “NCIS: New Orleans,” “Orange is The New Black,” “Random Acts of Flyness,” “Jessica Jones,” and more. @nedramarietaylor
Sabrina K. Victor
Understudy
SABRINA K. VICTOR (Understudy) is a proud Haitian-American making her Public debut. New York Theater: Sean’s Story (54 Below). A.R.T.’s 1776 and The Donkey Show. Other regional credits include School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play (SpeakEasyStage) and Miss You Like Hell (Company One). Victor is recent graduate of Columbia University’s MFA Acting Program. sabrinakvictor.com
Susan Kelechi Watson
Aisha
SUSAN KELECHI WATSON (Aisha) is best known for her much lauded role as ‘Beth Pearson’ on the smash hit series “This is Us.” Her acclaimed performance garnered her back-to-back SAG Outstanding Ensemble Awards as well as yearly NAACP nominations and several Critics Choice nominations. On stage, Watson starred in the London production of Eureka Day opposite Helen Hunt at The Old Vic and The Public's Free Shakespeare in the Park production of Merry Wives adapted by Jocelyn Bioh and directed by Saheem Ali. On TV, Watson can next be seen in the Shondaland limited series “The Residence” for Netflix. She most recently guest starred on ABC’s “Will Trent” and memorably recurred in a major role on FX’s critically acclaimed comedy series "Louie". In film, Watson starred in Marielle Heller’s A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood opposite Tom Hanks and Matthew Rhys. She is the exec producer and one of the stars of the groundbreaking HBO adaptation of Ta-Nehisi Coates' "Between the World and Me,” as well as the executive producer of Premature on Hulu.
Creative.
Playwright
Director
Scenic Design
Costume Design
Lighting Design
Sound Design
Hair and Wig Design
Prop Management
Movement Consultant
Dramaturgy
Production Stage Manager
Stage Manager
MEDIA.
Production Photos by Joan Marcus
Rehearsal Photos by Joan Marcus
