←Recommendations of The Return of the Shogun

  • Playwrights Foundation: The Return of the Shogun by Keenya Jackson
    “

    The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced THE RETURN OF THE SHOGUN as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We were engaged as Saleem grieves his step-dad who encouraged him in martial arts and the complications of reconnecting with his bio dad. We were drawn in by this magical realism story of family repairing relationships and their mental health, as Saleem's parents learn to embrace who he is. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards...

    The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced THE RETURN OF THE SHOGUN as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We were engaged as Saleem grieves his step-dad who encouraged him in martial arts and the complications of reconnecting with his bio dad. We were drawn in by this magical realism story of family repairing relationships and their mental health, as Saleem's parents learn to embrace who he is. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production. #BAPF46

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    ”
  • Lee R. Lawing: The Return of the Shogun by Keenya Jackson
    “

    Toxic masculinity is always such hard topic to read about, but this one provides such heart with Saleem that you can feel the rage building up for that need to end some of this toxicity which is his mom's new boyfriend. This play made me so tense and the characters were all believable which shows a very good writer at work.

    Toxic masculinity is always such hard topic to read about, but this one provides such heart with Saleem that you can feel the rage building up for that need to end some of this toxicity which is his mom's new boyfriend. This play made me so tense and the characters were all believable which shows a very good writer at work.

    ”
  • Cheryl Bear: The Return of the Shogun by Keenya Jackson
    “

    An incredibly moving and powerful play about a boy who stands with sheer bravery to protect his mother. Beautiful!

    An incredibly moving and powerful play about a boy who stands with sheer bravery to protect his mother. Beautiful!

    ”
  • Julie Zaffarano: The Return of the Shogun by Keenya Jackson
    “

    Jackson gives us a poignant view of a boy who’s world is failing him. Even at his young age, he knows what is right and wrong — he shows wisdom and bravery beyond his years. I’ve had the privilege to see this show staged and hope to see it again. Well done.

    Jackson gives us a poignant view of a boy who’s world is failing him. Even at his young age, he knows what is right and wrong — he shows wisdom and bravery beyond his years. I’ve had the privilege to see this show staged and hope to see it again. Well done.

    ”
  • Jordan Elizabeth Henry: The Return of the Shogun by Keenya Jackson
    “

    Wow. This play hurts -- it's beautiful and fierce and brave. The visual of Saleem putting on his mother's robe to become a warrior is simple but so rich. And Sabina's attempts to give her son a male role-model by encouraging him to engage in corporate prayer at Mosque is, again, such a simple but profound image: a mother choosing peace and ritual to strengthen her son, and a son choosing his mother's robe to make himself feel strong. A really brilliant short play.

    Wow. This play hurts -- it's beautiful and fierce and brave. The visual of Saleem putting on his mother's robe to become a warrior is simple but so rich. And Sabina's attempts to give her son a male role-model by encouraging him to engage in corporate prayer at Mosque is, again, such a simple but profound image: a mother choosing peace and ritual to strengthen her son, and a son choosing his mother's robe to make himself feel strong. A really brilliant short play.

    ”