←Recommendations of Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea

With all of the gravity of a folktale and fueled by the old-soul energy of its protagonist, this play is easily one of my favorites and one I keep returning to . As Dontrell journeys to discover his role in his lineage, which poetically becomes a place both past, present, and future, the story connects us to those we come from and those we will become all at once.

This play is so beautiful. It's full of poetry and life and joy and silliness and it's not enough to read it on the page. I want to see this big beautiful play staged over and over and over again.

I got to read this play for callbacks at the Phoenix several years ago, and it is such a beautiful, haunting work of art. The poetic and visceral nature of the work is 100% engaging and entrancing. Produce this! See this! Read this!

A stunning play, populated with compelling characters, and a story that rushes in and out of present, past and future, with tremendous joy and sorrow. There's something in the construction that immediately pulls you in, holding your imagination, the writing taking great care and yet making bold choices. This play is just unforgettable.

This play uses such a wonderful sense of lyricism and imagination. I'm immediately reminded of the City of Bones in August Wilson's GEM OF THE OCEAN. I was lucky enough to catch the production at Theatre Alliance, but even on the page Davis creates a palpable connection from beginning to end.

This is a perfect play. Nathan's use of lyrical language coupled with a desire to push the limits of theatricality make this play a contemporary classic. This is script that should be required reading for all theater students, regardless of their focus. These are characters that resonate, and themes that are so visceral and urgent it's as if this play was destined to be written. I have no doubt that Dontrell will find life onstage for a long time to come.

Twice Reading makes this play better. Students love even the title and the substantive and lyric content.

Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea by Nathan Alan Davis received a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere. The partnering NNPN Member Theaters were Skylight Theatre Company (Los Angeles, CA), Phoenix Theatre (Indianapolis, IN), Theatre Alliance (Washington, DC), Cleveland Public Theatre (OH), and Oregon Contemporary Theatre (Eugene)

When I saw the Theatre Alliance production, I couldn't stop talking about it. "Dontrell" is the kind of story that can only take place in a theatre, in that its resonant blend of humanity and ritual are best served in the immediate. Davis has given us a powerful lens through which to view the black American experience. He has given us a beautiful model for how all Americans might through love and trust begin to move forward toward a richer understanding of one another.

Beautiful script. Nathan has an amazing mastery of language, of rhythm, and of visual imagery, and it's brought together in a story that is both surprising and timeless. I've seen two NNPN Rolling World Premiere productions now, and would love to see more. And I can't wait to see what he writes next,