irreverent comedy
Straight White Men
by Young Jean Lee
directed by Emilia Sargent
Season Sponsors: The Gobioff Foundation | PreSchool Experience, Inc.
Hosted by: USF School of Theatre and Dance
Production Sponsors: Hal Freedman & Willi Rudowski
Supporting Sponsors: Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners | Florida Division of Arts & Culture
Artist Sponsors: Chris & Briget Hart
Ticketing Sponsor: Russell Buchan
Opening Night Sponsors: Andrea Graham & Geoff Simon
Presented at USF Theatre Centre, TAR 120
3837 USF Holly Dr., Tampa FL 33620
February 1-18, 2024
A provocative and hilarious play by Young Jean Lee (the first female Asian American playwright to be produced on Broadway), STRAIGHT WHITE MEN explores the meaning of privilege and identity in 21st century America. Three adult brothers gather for Christmas at their childhood home, and in the course of family bonding, confront their own sense of entitlement and the challenges of being a straight white man in a changing world. With its sharp wit and insightful commentary, this “compassionate and stimulating” look at Straight White Men is a must-see for anyone who has ever loved, hated, or been a straight white man.
“The signal surprise of STRAIGHT WHITE MEN, written by the ever-audacious Young Jean Lee, is that the play is not a full-frontal assault on the beings of the title…Ms. Lee’s fascinating play goes far beyond cheap satire, ultimately becoming a compassionate and stimulating exploration of one man’s existential crisis. Believe it or not, Ms. Lee wants us to sympathize with the inexpressible anguish of her protagonist, a middle-aged, upper-middle-class straight white man…[A] mournful and inquisitive play…” —NY Times.
“To cut to the obvious, STRAIGHT WHITE MEN is a loaded title…But the play turns out to have a disarming gentleness to it. Lee has more sympathy for her subject than scorn…STRAIGHT WHITE MEN is a family drama that on the surface looks fairly standard, but the play transcends psychological realism. Lee is wrestling with the meaning of straight white male privilege through characters who are self-conscious beneficiaries of an identity increasingly out of favor in 21st century America yet still, like it or not, in control.” —LA Times.
Jim Sorensen, Christopher Marshall, James Putnam and Don Walker (L-R) as the Straight White Men
Don Walker, Jim Sorensen, James Putnam, and Christopher Marshall (L-R) as the Straight White Men
Berry Ayers, Gabby Cabrera, and Randi J. Norman (L-R) as the People In Charge
Christopher Marshall as Matt, James Putnam as Drew
Gabby Cabrera, Christopher Marshall, Randi J. Norman, and Berry Ayers (L-R)
All photos courtesy Ashley Emrick Photography
Christopher Marshall, Jim Sorensen, James Putnam, and Don Walker (clockwise from top)
All My Sons – IN THE NEWS
Review: Tampa Rep’s ‘Straight White Men’ offers a nuanced look inside complicated family dynamics
Jon Palmer Claridge, Creative Loafing, 2.5.24
“As you enter the black box at University of South Florida’s Theatre Centre, you are bombarded by the sounds of female driven hip-hop as directed in the script and made punishingly present by sound designer, Georgia Mallory Guy. It’s designed to be off putting to much of the crowd, and for aficionados it’s well, a privilege—as we are later informed.“
READ THE FULL ARTICLE
Review: An Eye-Opening STRAIGHT WHITE MEN by Young Jean Lee Premieres at Tamparep
Drew Eberhard, BroadwayWorld, 2.5.24
“Young Jean Lee’s Straight White Men is a 2014 Dramatic Comedy that premiered off- Broadway at The Public Theatre in New York City on November 7, 2014. Directed by the playwright Lee, and featuring Austin Pendleton as “Ed”, Pete Simpson, James Stanely, and Gary Wilmes… “
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On two Tampa stages, new plays focus on identity struggles
Bill DeYoung, St. Pete Catalyst, 2.6.24
“New plays on two of Tampa’s professional stages probe issues of gender, identity, equality – and survival. One is a serious drama, the other a dark comedy. Both are designed to make the audience question the accepted way of things, and maybe squirm just a little.“
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Previews: STRAIGHT WHITE MEN at TampaRep
BroadwayWorld, 1.31.
“On February 2-18, Tampa Repertory Theatre presents STRAIGHT WHITE MEN, a captivating comedy by Young Jean Lee, at the USF Theatre Centre. The play explores identity, privilege, and masculinity in contemporary America as three brothers, Matt, Jake, and Drew, reunite with their father, Ed, for Christmas. Guided by the “Persons in Charge,” the audience gains a new perspective on heterosexual males.“
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Location:
University of South Florida
USF Theatre Centre
3837 USF Holly Drive, TAR 120
Tampa, FL 33620
Next to the Marshall Student Center
On both Google Maps or Apple Maps,
the easiest way to find us is to search for
“THEATRE CENTRE“
or “3837 USF Holly Dr.”
Be sure to use “USF Holly Dr”, not just “Holly Dr”, which is a different location in Tampa.
For more info, call the box office: (813) 556-8737
Dates & Times:
February 1-18, 2024
Thu / Fri / Sat evenings – 7:30pm
Sat / Sun matinees – 3:00pm
Seating begins 20 minutes prior to showtime.
Approximate running time is 100 minutes with one 15-minute intermission.
Health & Safety:
TampaRep will follow all local and CDC-suggested COVID safety guidelines at the time of the performances.
parking:
There is plenty of parking at USF, free after 6pm and on weekends. MORE INFORMATION is available here.
What to EXPECT:
Seating will be general admission – first-come, first seated.
Non-alcoholic snacks will be available for purchase.
Only water is allowed in the theatre.
USF School of Theatre and Dance
