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

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Mail

Theatre Lawrence News & Announcements

Next to Normal starts season journey

By Jamie Ulmer • September 8, 2025

Welcome to the 2025–2026 Theatre Lawrence Season! This year promises a wide variety of theatrical destinations designed to entertain, expand, and enliven audiences and participants alike. We begin our journey with the Pulitzer Prize–winning musical Next to Normal . This groundbreaking work opened on Broadway in 2009, after first appearing as a 10-minute workshop in 1998. An unconventional topic for a musical, the show centers on a family navigating grief and mental health. In her book Feeling Pain is Normal, Rebecca Cecilia Kidwell writes, “Next to Normal provides a safe community for grief. Many of the audience members have experienced loss, and many of them will cry and hug each other—even if they are strangers—because they finally feel that someone is permitting them to be open with their emotions.” Paired with a contemporary rock score, the show asks honest, sometimes uncomfortable, questions. In rehearsals, we’ve reflected on how the themes and emotions explored by the characters are universal, reaching beyond the specific circumstances of the script. The excitement in our acting community has been remarkable: over 70 performers auditioned for this six-person cast. Casting was both a challenge and a gift, resulting in a group of performers who are giving their all every night as we explore this complex, rewarding material together. All of this makes me truly excited to share Next to Normal with you. Theatre offers the unique opportunity to share an experience—even when it is challenging. We thank you for joining us on this journey and encourage you to talk with one another, share your feelings, and seek support if this story resonates deeply with you. Enjoy the show! Jamie Ulmer Executive Director