About the Play:

Chicken & Biscuits is a full-length comedy by Douglas Lyons. Can rivalling sisters Baneatta and Beverly bury their father without killing each other? When a family secret is revealed at the church altar, things go from bad to bonkers. Chicken & Biscuits is a raucous family comedy full of laughter and love, forgiveness and healing, in a comedically complex black family.

Chicken & Biscuits follows the Jenkins family as they come together to celebrate the life of their father, Bernard, who was the pastor of the church. The play's name is inspired by Bernard's favourite meal and his bickering daughters and adult grandchildren all agree that it will await him in heaven. Eldest daughter, Baneatta, wants everything to be perfect. This proves difficult when self-proclaimed favourite daughter, Beverly, a single mother to an impatient teenage daughter, would rather honour her daddy by dressing to show off her "blessings" to the congregation. Meanwhile, Baneatta's son brings his neurotic Jewish boyfriend along, knowing Baneatta disapproves, and Beverly's nosy daughter, La'trice, keeps asking questions no one wants to answer. Baneatta's pastor husband tries to mediate the family drama while preparing Bernard's eulogy. Then, everything starts to unravel when it's revealed that Bernard had not just two daughters, but three. Wig pins loosen, as truths emerge, leaving this African-American family to confront their skeletons head on; naturally with lots of love, shade, and prayer along the way.

Chicken & Biscuits premiered in 2020 at the Queens Theatre in the Park off-Broadway in New York City. It transferred to Broadway in 2021 at the Circle on the Square Theatre, directed by Zhailon Levingston, who made history as the youngest Black director ever on Broadway. Since then the play had regional premieres at professional theatres across the US and has been mounted by high schools, colleges, and community theatres.

Cast: 5 female, 3 male

What people say:

"…a brilliant script that's fresh, relatable and laugh-out-loud funny. …Chicken & Biscuits is more than just a church service…it is a much-needed therapy session, a portrait of Black joy, love and laughter… This play is both a Hallelujah and an A-men." — Variety

"Chicken & Biscuits serves up roaring comedy… The play provides audiences with the blessed release of almost continual laughter…." — Broadway News

About the Playwright:

Douglas Lyons is an African-American actor, writer, director, composer-lyricist and playwright. He served as a writer & composer on Apple TV's series Fraggle Rock. He received a GLAAD nomination for his Broadway playwriting debut, Chicken and Biscuits.