Kaluuya to Debut on US Stage in Jacobs-Jenkins' 'Grass'

Key points

• Daniel Kaluuya will star in 'Grass,' marking his debut on a US stage.
• The play is written by two-time Tony winner and 2025 Pulitzer Prize winner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.
• The production will world premiere at Park Avenue Armory, with previews starting February 19 and opening on February 26, 2027.
• The run is scheduled to continue through March 28, 2027.
• Sarah Benson will direct, and Mimi Lien will design the sets, reuniting the team from 'An Octoroon.'
• The play is co-commissioned by Park Avenue Armory and the National Black Theatre.

Background

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins is a prominent playwright known for works like 'Purpose' and 'Appropriate,' which have won multiple Tony Awards. Daniel Kaluuya is an Oscar-winning actor known for films such as 'Get Out' and 'Judas and the Black Messiah,' and has previously appeared in London stage productions. Park Avenue Armory is a notable Off-Broadway venue in New York City, marking its 20th anniversary in 2027.

How outlets are covering it

All four sources (Playbill, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and TheaterMania) confirm the core facts: Kaluuya's US stage debut in 'Grass' at Park Avenue Armory, the creative team, and the 2027 dates. Playbill and The Hollywood Reporter emphasize the play's focus on reconstructing the family tree, while Variety provides a more detailed description of the play as a 'fantasia, memory play, and morality play' and lists additional creative team members. TheaterMania specifically names historical figures like Walt Whitman and Martin Luther King Jr. that the characters encounter. The Hollywood Reporter and Variety highlight Jacobs-Jenkins' recent Pulitzer Prize win for 'Purpose,' while Playbill notes his Tony Awards. All sources agree on the co-commission with the National Black Theatre and the reunion of the 'An Octoroon' creative team.

Why it matters

This production is significant as it marks the US stage debut of a major film star, Daniel Kaluuya, in a new work by a highly acclaimed playwright, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. The play's themes of family history, identity, and the American South, combined with its surreal and historical elements, suggest a potentially impactful and thought-provoking Off-Broadway production. The involvement of the National Black Theatre and the reunion of a successful creative team further underscore its importance in the current theater landscape.

What to watch

Previews for 'Grass' are scheduled to begin on February 19, 2027, with opening night on February 26, 2027. The run will continue through March 28, 2027. Full casting for the production is expected to be announced at a later date. Park Avenue Armory will also present 'Einstein on the Beach' in September 2027 and 'Guernica Guernica' in December 2027.