He’s The First by Phillip Gregory Burke

A random encounter at a library leaves two complete yet, curious strangers from different academic worlds the chance to explore their similarities or judge their books by their covers. But when insecurity and misunderstandings separate them, their vivacious parental figures-through the aid of a missing library card, catapult them on a discovery of academics, friendship and perhaps, something more. The first play in Firsts Testaments Cycle.
  • Recommend
  • Download
  • Save to Reading List

He’s The First

Recommended by

  • Michael C. O'Day:
    20 Aug. 2023
    “ A sweet, wistful pas-de-deux of adolescent love (or love-adjacent feelings, at any rate - adolescence is complicated) that also features some of the biggest belly laughs I've seen on stage in a good long while. Burke's is a wonderfully specific voice, alive to nuances not only of race and sexuality, but of how each generation finds new ways to tell the same timeless story. ”
  • Shelby Seeley:
    17 Aug. 2023
    “ I had the privilege of seeing this piece performed at the 48th Annual Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival. This play is FUNNY FUNNY, academic, sweet, and fun to watch. A satisfying will-they-won't-they meet cute that will give you butterflies. Seeing queer, black joy on stage is so needed and important. A strong new voice that I can't wait to see more from. ”
  • Katarzyna Kathy Müller:
    19 Jul. 2023
    “ One word: REAL. I love the depth and complexity of the characters. And, most impressively, they "sound" like teens. That is a challenging task on which many of us stumble. I *believe* these characters, and I feel invested to learn what happens to them. I didn't want this play to end! ALSO, the writing is hypnotic. Rhythmic. Poetic. Even the stage directions sing. I feel like I just got a front-row seat to a consequential new voice in theater. ”

Character Information

  • Zach
    15,
    African / African American / Black
    ,
    Any male
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Ernesto
    15,
    Afro-Latinx
    ,
    Any male
    Ernesto's Mother is Black from America. His Father is Black from Panama.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American, Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Gender: 
      Male

Production History

  • Professional
    ,
    PBS/All Arts/ WNET Group (TV)
    ,
    2023
  • Professional
    ,
    Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival
    ,
    2023
  • Professional
    ,
    48th Annual Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Festival
    ,
    2023

Awards

Semi-Finalist
,
Semi-Finalist
,
3rd Annual Obsidian Theater Festival
,
2023
Winner
,
Improbable Fiction New Works Series
,
Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival
,
2023