←Recommendations of How It's Gon' Be

A beautiful play about family and about the words we choose to say to one another and the ones we don't. I want this play done all over the country. This is exactly the kind of play the American Theatre purports to want to produce in its mission statements... so step up. This is a great american play.

Propulsive, down to earth, and simmering with passion, "How It's Gon' Be" swelters and swoons in the heat of its coming of age summer fantasia feels. The energetic dialogue between Jahaan and his friends bursts forth with lived in camaraderie as well as growing pain distance. All of the music references made me feel like I was in the backseat of my moms Toyota or at a family get together. But what lingers with me the most is the masterfully illustrated relationship between Jahaan and his mother Angela, brimming with tense angst and unquestionable love.

A beautifully rendered coming of age story that centers around Jahaan, a vividly-realized character. In fact, all six characters are written as distinct, complex voices and are written with a great deal of care and tenderness for them. Johnson effortlessly slips between the irregular and beautifully captured rhythms of day-to-day speech and a world of heightened poetry--the beauty in both worlds is rich. I also appreciated how, through the dialogue, Johnson captured such a clear sense of place--the sights, sounds, and humidity of this world. This story is so intimately captured and profound in scope. Gorgeously done!

I love dialect plays, and JuCoby Johnson has written one of the very best...an exquisite poem on the nature of all of the loves that can surround a boy growing up. This play is a favorite among all of those that I have read on NPX. Thanks, Mr' Johnson.