Primary Trust

Primary Trust
Primary Trust
Written by	Eboni Booth
Date premiered	May 4, 2023
Place premiered	Laura Pels Theatre
Original language	English
Genre	Drama
Setting	Cranberry Lake, New York; 1990s

Primary Trust is a dramatic stage play written by American playwright Eboni Booth. The production premiered Off-Broadway at the Laura Pels Theatre in 2023 and starred William Jackson Harper who received the Obie Award. The play was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2024.

Summary

The play tells the story of Kenneth, a 30-something African-American suburban bookstore worker with an imaginary friend who embarks on a journey of self-discovery. After being laid off from his long-time job, he considers applying for a new one at the Primary Trust Bank.^[1]^[2]

Production history

Off-Broadway (2023)

The play premiered Off-Broadway at the Laura Pels Theatre, produced by the Roundabout Theatre Company, with support from The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater and the Edgerton Foundation. The production was directed by Knud Adams.^[3] William Jackson Harper won an Obie Award for distinguished performance, and the play was nominated for Outstanding Play by the Lucille Lortel Awards.^[4]^[5]^[6] He also received nominations for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play and the Drama League Distinguished Performance Award.^[7]^[8]

Signature Theatre (2024)

The play will receive its regional premiere at Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA, running from Sept 10-Oct 20, 2024 in the ARK Theatre.

Barrington Stage Company (2024)

The closing play of the season at Barrington Stage Company will run from Sept 18–Oct 13, 2024 at the ST. GERMAIN STAGE in Pittsfield, MA.

La Jolla Playhouse (2024)

The play will premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse as a West Coast premiere, with an anticipated run of Sept 24-Oct 20, 2024, again directed by Knud Adams.^[9]

Chicago (2024)

Goodman Theatre in Chicago announced their regional premiere as part of the 2024-25 season.

Seattle (2024)

Seattle Repertory Theater --- October 24 - November 27

Baltimore, MD (2025)

Everyman Theatre, Baltimore announced their production will be directed by Reginald L. Douglas and run Feb 2-March 2, 2025. ^[10]

Original cast and characters

Character	Off-Broadway (2023)	Signature (2024)	La Jolla (2024)	Goodman (2024)
Kenneth	William Jackson Harper	Julius Thomas III	Caleb Eberhardt	Namir Smallwood
Bert	Eric Berryman	Frank Britton	James Udom	TBA
Corrina / Others	April Matthis	Yesenia Iglesias	Rebecca S'Manga Frank	TBA
Clay / Others	Jay O. Sanders	Craig Wallace	James Urbaniak	TBA

Awards and nominations

2023 Off-Broadway production

Year	Award	Category	Nominee	Result	Ref.
2024	Pulitzer Prize	Pulitzer Prize for Drama		Won	^[11]
	Drama Desk Award	Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play	William Jackson Harper	Nominated	^[12]
	Drama League Awards	Distinguished Performance	William Jackson Harper	Nominated	^[13]
	Lucille Lortel Award	Outstanding Play		Nominated	^[14]
	Lucille Lortel Award	Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play	William Jackson Harper	Nominated	^[14]
	Obie Awards	Performance	William Jackson Harper	Won	^[15]
	Obie Awards	Sustained Achievement in Design	Mikaal Sulaiman	Won	^[15]
	Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play		Won	^[16]
		Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Play	William Jackson Harper	Won
		Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Play	April Matthis	Nominated
		Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Play	Jay O. Sanders	Won
		Outstanding Direction of a Play (Broadway or Off-Broadway)	Knud Adams	Nominated

External links

Official website

References

^ New York Times Review - Primary Trust accessed 05/06/2024
^ Best Theater of 2023 - The New York Times
^ "Primary Trust - Edgerton Foundation New Play Awards". circle.tcg.org.
^ Jacobs-Jenkins, Branden (April 17, 2024). "Eboni Booth on 'Primary Trust': Only Connect". AMERICAN THEATRE.
^ "Eboni Booth's Primary Trust Opens Off-Broadway May 25 | Playbill".
^ Off-Broadway Database Listingaccessed 05/06/2024
^ Sarah Paulson Wins Drama League Award; See the Full List of Winners|Playbill
^ Stereophonic Leads 2024 Drama Desk Awards With 7 Wins Including Outstanding Play|Playbill
^ "Primary Trust".
^ https://everymantheatre.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/patronticket__publicticketapp#/events/a0SUp000001G23jMAC
^ "Eboni Booth's 'Primary Trust' Wins 2024 Pulitzer Prize For Drama; Play Was Staged Off Broadway By Roundabout Last Summer". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
^ "2024 Drama Desk Award nominations announced". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
^ "2024 Drama League Awards Nominations Are Out; Read the Full List". Playbill. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
^ "2024 Lucille Lortel Award winners announced". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
^ "Obie Awards 23". Obieawards. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
^ "Dead Outlaw Leads 2024 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations; Read the Full List". Playbill. Retrieved May 6, 2024.

[1] New York Times Review - Primary Trust accessed 05/06/2024

[2] Best Theater of 2023 - The New York Times

[3] "Primary Trust - Edgerton Foundation New Play Awards". circle.tcg.org.

[4] Jacobs-Jenkins, Branden (April 17, 2024). "Eboni Booth on 'Primary Trust': Only Connect". AMERICAN THEATRE.

[5] "Eboni Booth's Primary Trust Opens Off-Broadway May 25 | Playbill".

[6] Off-Broadway Database Listingaccessed 05/06/2024

[7] Sarah Paulson Wins Drama League Award; See the Full List of Winners|Playbill

[8] Stereophonic Leads 2024 Drama Desk Awards With 7 Wins Including Outstanding Play|Playbill

[9] "Primary Trust".

[10] ttps://everymantheatre.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/patronticket__publicticketapp#/events/a0SUp000001G23jMAC

[11] "Eboni Booth's 'Primary Trust' Wins 2024 Pulitzer Prize For Drama; Play Was Staged Off Broadway By Roundabout Last Summer". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 6, 2024.

[12] "2024 Drama Desk Award nominations announced". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved May 6, 2024.

[13] "2024 Drama League Awards Nominations Are Out; Read the Full List". Playbill. Retrieved May 6, 2024.

[14] "2024 Lucille Lortel Award winners announced". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved May 6, 2024.

[15] "Obie Awards 23". Obieawards. Retrieved May 6, 2024.

[16] "Dead Outlaw Leads 2024 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations; Read the Full List". Playbill. Retrieved May 6, 2024.

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