Some things are universal

Jamie Ulmer • March 4, 2025

"Chicken and Biscuits" a good laugh for anyone with a family

Some things are universal, such as death and taxes. This wonderfully heartfelt comedy by Douglas Lyons isn’t about taxes. Instead it’s a show that invites you to laugh, cry, and celebrate family in all its beautiful, messy, complicated glory.


Describing the show in an interview just prior to its Broadway opening, Lyons said, “I would say Chicken and Biscuits would be a good laugh for anyone who has family.”


Lyons began work on the script (his first) while appearing on Broadway in the musical Beautiful, writing a little bit at a time during a 45-minute window between scenes. The show draws on his own experiences but also what he saw as a need. “Growing up with so many Black women ... they’re all strong and vibrant and have real personalities, and I rarely see those depictions in the American theater,” he explained in a recent LA Times interview. “The actor in me is like, why not write some different offerings for my peers so they can have more work?”


Debuting on Broadway in 2021, Chicken and Biscuits would go on to become the second most produced play in the 2022-23 season around the country. It would also be the jumping off point for two other plays that Lyons describes as “The Deep Breath Trilogy: New Plays for Black Women.” Table 17 debuted off-Broadway last year and Don’t Touch My Hair completed its premier last month in LA.


The theme of the trilogy isn’t recurring characters. Instead, Lyons says each play has a moment where a Black woman stands center stage and takes a deep breath. “In the world we live in right now, that’s revolutionary,” he said.


At a time when being inclusive and intentional in celebrating all aspects of our community is becoming bafflingly taboo a show like this reminds us of our shared experiences. As Lyon’s said, “…I think the beauty of the play is that I found it’s not just the food itself, it’s the imagery of us eating the food, it’s the tradition, the laughter, the healing, and the joy that takes place over the food that the play is addressing.”


Enjoy the show!

Jamie Ulmer

Executive Director

Theatre Lawrence News & Announcements

April 25, 2025
Thank you to everyone who auditioned! We are so excited about this cast and getting to work with all of you! Cast List Percy Jackson...........................James Green Annabeth ....................................Katie Mastrosimone Grover.............................................Elliot Polson Luke .................................................Walker North Sally Jackson ............................Eva Farmer Clarisse .........................................Lily Davis Mr. Brunner aka Chiron.......Nolan Stewart Charon ..........................................Lily Stewart Mrs. Dodds .................................Audrey Shull Gabe Ugliano ...........................Liam Melendez Ares .................................................Silas Warrior Poseidon ......................................Coleman Hodges Hades ............................................Megan Peterson Mr. D aka Dionysus ...............Oscar Gnojek Selena Beauregard ..............Alaina Shipley Kate Gardner ............................Adelaide Kiene The Oracle ..................................Atticus Lauer Aunty Em .....................................Ida Hegeman Squirrel...........................................Abby Horn Greyhound Passenger 1.....Annie Dahlstrand Greyhouse Passenger 2....Ellie Strickland Train Conductor......................Lydia Beat Echidna.........................................Olivia Fritz Newscaster ...............................Edward LaPlant Farmer ..........................................Aiden Toms Bianca ...........................................Megan Rinnert James Brown ............................Nelson Lewis Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.......Oliver Jepsen Pike Kurt Cobain ...............................Ezra Nelson Janis Joplin.................................Ash Palmateer DJ Cerebus.................................Spencer Carroll Nancy Bobofit...........................Sapphire Comfort Young Thalia ............................Madelyn Phillips Young Annabeth ...................Bridget Kirkpatrick-Tripler Young Grover...........................Micah Shipley Young Luke.................................Luca White Mrs. Dodd’s Furies ................Evie Thiessen and Eva Gammill Echo’s, the Oracle Chorus Eden Gehri Sam Hamill Eloise McKeever Alayna Terfler Vienna Children’s Choir Olivia Clifford Leanna Deitrich Elise DeVader Grace Goodison Annie Leahew Kinley Thiessen Statues for Medusa Molly Black Karianna Hall Evelyn Hurst Lucy Kneidel Willow Terfler The Dead Harper Cordt Izzy Hoskinson Aria Hutchinson MJ Kramer Sloan Spader
By Jamie Ulmer April 22, 2025
Nothing says "fun family night" like solving a murder. Judging by the enduring popularity of the board game Clue, one could surmise that’s exactly the case. The 1985 movie, while not a hit at the time, has since become a cult classic. This stage adaptation has proven to be a success for theatres across the country. So, we must deduce that solving a murder is fun. The evidence backs this up. The board game, conceived in the UK in 1943, was originally called Cluedo—a play on words combining “clue” and the Latin word ludo, meaning “I play.” Due to wartime shortages, the game wasn’t produced commercially until 1949. When released in the U.S., the Latin wordplay was dropped, and it became simply Clue, distributed by Parker Brothers. The game continues to be produced and updated, but the basic premise has remained the same. The 1985 film featured an all-star cast of comedic actors, including Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, and Christopher Lloyd. It famously had three different endings, and which one you saw depended on the theater you attended. Though it wasn’t a financial success at the time, it has since developed a major cult following. In 2017, the first version of this stage play debuted, drawing heavily from the 1985 film. The script has undergone several revisions and adaptations through 2021. The show has proven wildly popular, often landing on lists of the most-produced plays in community, professional, and academic theatres. It’s also popular with actors—our auditions saw the largest turnout for a play in many years! So what makes it so beloved? It’s a combination of many factors: the familiar title and premise, the classic over-the-top characters, and the chance to don our detective hats and solve a mystery. It creates a kind of “comfort food” feel. We know what to expect, we can relax and enjoy the ride, and maybe even pat ourselves on the back when we think we've solved the mystery before the characters do. Sometimes, you just need to take a break and enjoy some good, old-fashioned fun—solving a murder. Enjoy the show! Jamie Ulmer Executive Director
April 21, 2025
Theatre Lawrence is currently accepting applications for creative positions for the 2025-2026 regular season. To apply please send an email to julmer@theatrelawrence.com stating what show and position you are interested in being considered for, along with a resume. For consideration please apply by May 2. Shows and positions are: NEXT TO NORMAL (Sept. 19-28, 2025): Music Director, Choreographer WHITE CHRISTMAS (Dec. 5-21, 2025): Director, Music Director, Choreographer THE MOUNTAINTOP (Jan. 30-Feb 8, 2026): Director THE COTTAGE (March 13-22, 2026): Director DIAL M FOR MURDER (April 17-26, 2026): Director THE ADDAMS FAMILY (June 5-21, 2026): Director, Music Director, Choreographer
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