NEW ORLEANS – Crescent City Stage (CCS) announced the regional premiere of the 2024 Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Primary Trust” by Eboni Booth. In partnership with the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC), the production runs from May 7 to May 24 in the Black Box Theatre at 900 Camp St.
“New Orleans is a city that has always known how to hold grief and joy in the same breath,” said Michael A. Newcomer, director. “‘Primary Trust‘ speaks directly to that spirit. It’s a story about a man learning to step outside the safe, familiar walls he’s built around himself and discover that connection, friendship, and belonging are still within reach. Eboni Booth has given us a quiet masterpiece, and I am proud to bring it here for New Orleans to experience.”
The play follows Kenneth, who has built a life that feels safe: a steady job, a favorite bar, and a best friend who’s always there when he needs him. But when that carefully ordered world begins to shift, Kenneth is forced to confront what it might mean to let someone new in.
The production features an all-local cast, led by Jarrod Smith as Kenneth, alongside Doug Spearman, Nicole Collins, Mark Cosby, and Steve Gilliland. Gilliland also serves as the production’s composer, with original music performed live onstage, bringing a distinctly New Orleans sound to this intimate story. Lighting and costume design by Adachi Pimentel and Elizabeth Newcomer.
Audiences are encouraged to arrive early and explore the Contemporary Arts Center’s galleries and public spaces before the performance, making a full evening of the experience.
Performance details: May 7–24 · CAC Black Box Theatre, 900 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA 70130 cacno.org
Showtimes: Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2:30 p.m.