Jamaican-born playwright and actor David Heron is celebrating a full-circle second in his profession, as he prepares to supply and direct the twenty fifth anniversary efficiency of his hit comedy Love and Marriage and New York Metropolis—the very play that opened the doorways to his worldwide success and earned him his U.S. inexperienced card.
“My ‘inexperienced card play’ Love and Marriage and New York Metropolis was not solely a vital and business success, however earned me the inexperienced card that modified your complete course of my life and profession,” Heron says.
The particular staged studying will happen on Sunday, June 22 at 7 p.m. on the Jamaica Performing Arts Middle in Queens, as a part of Caribbean American Heritage Month. A complimentary reception, courtesy of Golden Krust Caribbean Delicacies, might be held beforehand at 5:30 p.m.
David Heron, winner of the 2023 Broadway World Award for Greatest Supporting Performer for The Tempest on the Colonial Theatre of Rhode Island, says the anniversary efficiency is each a private milestone and a celebration of his immigrant journey.
Although many assume the play was written after years within the U.S., David Heron truly premiered it in Jamaica in 1999, adopted by a U.S. debut in South Florida in 2000. Its rising acclaim led to UK excursions, an Off-Broadway run on the Billie Vacation Theatre, and choice for the Nationwide Black Theatre Pageant in 2007—milestones that helped Heron qualify for everlasting residency within the U.S.
“The nice irony in my life is that I wrote a play about Jamaicans attempting to get inexperienced playing cards, and wound up being a Jamaican who bought my very own inexperienced card due to it,” he says. “That is really a full circle second.”
The story follows two Jamaican {couples}—Jessica and Theo, Natalie and Damian—who enter marriages of comfort in Manhattan, solely to seek out that love complicates their plans. The 2025 forged contains Denise Hunt as Jessica, Shevrado Oliver as Damian, James Duke Walker as Theo, and Gabrielle C. Archer as Natalie. Hunt returns to the manufacturing after enjoying Natalie within the 2003 UK tour.
Heron drew inspiration from mates’ anecdotes and traditional rom-coms like Working Woman, As Good As It Will get, and Notting Hill. Together with his inexperienced card secured, he carved out a notable performing profession, showing in The Emperor Jones, Pecong, and Moon on a Rainbow Scarf, and originating roles in Marley – The Musical and Robinson Crusoe.
Educated at Wolmer’s Boys’ Faculty and the College of the West Indies, Heron was energetic in performing arts from a younger age. He left the stage briefly for a company profession earlier than returning together with his debut play Ecstasy. That was adopted by hits like Intermission, Towards His Will, and Redemption.
Now a naturalized citizen, Heron can be mentoring the following technology of artists in his household, together with grand-niece Lauren ‘LC’ Campbell and grand-nephew Adam Christian. “I look ahead to them becoming a member of their uncle right here within the Huge Apple someday so we are able to take over the city!”
The twenty fifth Anniversary efficiency is sponsored by the Jamaica Vacationer Board, Mesidor PLLC, Outcomes Promo and Advertising, and IMC Media.
Tickets can be found at loveandmarriagetheplay.eventbrite.com. College students might attend free by calling 646-533-7021.
Location: Jamaica Performing Arts Middle, 153-10 Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, NY 11432.
