Houston's Black Lab Theatre Presents THE SUBMISSION, Jan 11-27

In a regional premiere, Black Lab Theatre presents THE SUBMISSION, the award-winning, controversial comic-drama that questions the reality of America's post racial world. THE SUBMISSION revolves around danny larson, a white gay playwright who lies about his true identity in a playwriting festival to gain an affirmative action advantage and then hires an African American actress to impersonate his nome de plume.

THE SUBMISSION, penned by Jeff Talbott, won the Laurents/Hatcher Award for Best New Play in 2011 and the Outer Critics Circle Award. The Houston premiere opens this January at Black Lab Theatre after recently completing a critically acclaimed Off-Broadway run. Black Lab's production, to be directed by Black Lab Theatre artistic director Jordan Jaffe, will run from Jan 11 through 27 (Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm plus Sundays Jan 20 and 27 at 2pm) at Frenetic Theatre (5102 Navigation, Houston, TX 77011). Free parking will be provided.

General admission tickets are available for $25 with $20 tickets for seniors and $12 for students. Seating is limited. Tickets may be purchased at the door or via www.blacklabtheatre.com. Box office number: 713-515-4028.

The Houston premiere will feature Ross Bautsch (Alley Theatre: A Few Good Men, Main Street Theatre: Coast of Utopia series) as Danny, Matt Benton (Back Porch Players: God and Death) as Peter, Candice D'Meza (Ensemble Theatre: Sanctified, Blues in the Night) as Emilie, and Darcy Cadman (Stargate:Continuum, The 4400, Supernatural) as Trevor.

"We're very excited to present this cutting edge drama in Houston," notes Jordan Jaffe, Black Lab Theatre artistic director whose 2011-2012 season was praised for welcoming "challenging and pertinent productions" to Houston. "It is the perfect post 2012 election play. My generation believes that they live in a post-racial, post-sexual politics world but Talbott questions that cultural premise in a way that shocks the audience out of their seats." 

After years of rejection letters, frustrated playwright Danny Larsen has written a complex new drama about an African American family trying to get out of the Projects, and it has just been selected for the nation's preeminent Humana festival. Problem is: Danny, a young white gay male, submitted the work under the pen name "Shaleeha G'ntamobi" in the hopes of increasing his chances for success. To cover his deception, Danny hires Emilie, an African American actress, to impersonate the nome de plume. What starts as a terrible idea becomes more and more terrible as Danny drags Emilie, his boyfriend, and his best friend down a long and dirty path of lies, revelation, and betrayal A fiercely controversial and intelligent new comic drama about the words we use to describe each other, The Submission addresses the things we'll do to get what we want.

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