Actors Theatre of Louisville, Dallas Theater Center present the queer comedy I AM DELIVERED’T
Good Friday. The New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church’s Seven Last Words service is in full swing. But outside—in the church parking lot—another resurrection story is taking shape. Sis, the Vice President of Usher Board Number One, and her protégé Pickles find themselves in a battle royale of romantic quagmires. This joyful new comedy introduces theater audiences to the world of Church Usher Board culture and celebrates same-gender-loving church folks, and the power and joy of being your authentic self. These are the announcements. Let us govern ourselves accordingly.
I AM DELIVERED’T is the latest play from award-winning playwright Jonathan Norton, whose honors include the M. Elizabeth Osborn New Play Award given by the American Theatre Critics Association. This production is directed by Actors Theatre of Louisville Executive Artistic Director Robert Barry Fleming, who reunites with Norton after their collaboration on the Actors Theatre-commissioned project Are You There? (2020 Humana Festival premiere). Together, these artists endeavor to excavate stories that have been buried and empower people and communities through transformative storytelling.
This world-premiere comedy promises to do just that. I AM DELIVERED’T contains many of the hallmarks of Norton’s work: an uproarious sense of humor, distinctive Southern worldview, and beautifully drawn characters rendered in all of their rich humanity. The comic levity of the play also makes space for a profound exploration of how the church can be a place of comfort and community, but not always one of inclusion, as four queer churchgoers navigate trying to find belonging and love. Do not miss the opportunity to laugh, connect, and see a bold new piece of theatre.
“As with most classic comedies, the chaos and tears in I AM DELIVERED’T lead to insights and clarity. Norton said all of this is a little like the experience of ‘catching the spirit.’ It’s cathartic.”—Jerome Weeks, The Dallas Morning News, on the play’s Dallas run
Discounted tickets for students and educators are available for $15 plus fees on Wednesday nights, March 13 and 20. Additionally, there is closed captioning on Sunday, March 17 at 2 p.m. and Thursday, March 21 at 7 p.m. Other access services for this production include ASL interpretation and audio description on Thursday, March 21 at 7 p.m. Please consider joining us for a post-show conversation with local church and community leaders after the March 17 matinee.
In addition, national and international audiences will be able to watch the March 22-24 performances of I AM DELIVERED’T in real time via live stream, thanks to a partnership between Actors Theatre of Louisville and The League of Live Stream Theater, a nonprofit that brings live performances to audiences around the world. Tickets for the live stream experience are $39. Learn more and purchase tickets on the LOLST website and actorstheatre.org!
All photos taken during the Dallas run at Dallas Theater Center. Photo credit: Karen Almond and Dallas Theater Center
