Pulitzer Prize-Winning Play 'Topdog/Underdog' Coming to SUNY Potsdam Stage

Department of Theatre & Dance Presents Compelling Two-Person Drama from April 5 to 9

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Sean B. Johnson, a senior communications major, and Anthony Williams Jr., a graduate student at SUNY Potsdam, star in Suzan-Lori Parks’ Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, “Topdog/Underdog.”

POTSDAM, NY (03/24/2011)(readMedia)-- The Department of Theatre and Dance at SUNY Potsdam will present the 2002 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama "Topdog/Underdog" by Suzan-Lori Parks in an upcoming production.

The play will be presented at 7:30 p.m. from Tuesday through Saturday, April 5 to 9 in Black Box Theater, located in Satterlee Hall.

Directed by Dr. Jay Pecora, an assistant professor in the department, "Topdog/Underdog" is a timely play about the realities of being a black man in America.

The production stars Sean B. Johnson, a senior communications major, and Anthony Williams Jr., a graduate student, playing brothers Booth and Lincoln, respectively. Haunted by their past and forced by the present to choose between dead-end jobs or hustling, the brothers confront one another and their future -- sometimes comically and sometimes violently.

"I'm extremely excited to see this play go up," said Johnson. "'Topdog/Underdog' is a play told from a unique perspective. The atmosphere and the type of characters in this play are very new to Potsdam and the North Country."

Student Vincent Loucks is the play's costume designer. Lauren More designed the set as her senior project, under the guidance of faculty member Todd Canedy.

Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for SUNY Potsdam affiliates, senior citizens and youth. Please note that this play is not advised for audiences under the age of 14.

Seating at the performance will be by general admission and tickets will be sold at the door beginning at 7 p.m. For further information, please call (315) 267-3394 or email ddtix@potsdam.edu.

To learn more about the many productions offered throughout the year through SUNY Potsdam's Department of Theatre and Dance, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/AAS/Theatre/index.cfm.

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Founded in 1816, and located on the outskirts of the beautiful Adirondack Park, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 100 colleges. SUNY Potsdam currently enrolls approximately 4,350 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its handcrafted education, challenging liberal arts and sciences core, excellence in teacher training, and leadership in the performing and visual arts.

-www.potsdam.edu-