←Recommendations of The Red Man

The world of THE RED MAN is so richly detailed, it hardly feels like it's set in one location. The gators, the sheets of rain, the holes in the wall, that dark endless hallway – it all paints a vibrant picture of decay and fear, which perfectly underscores Jackie and Jacqueline's slow reckoning with their past, and their possible futures. I ADORE the dialogue in this play, so much said in so few words. A contemporary thriller with the roots of a classical fable.

Premiere Stages, the professional Equity theatre company in residence at Kean University, is pleased to recognize The Red Man as a Semi-Finalist for the 2025 Premiere Play Festival. The Red Man rose through a competitive selection conducted by Premiere staff and an external panel of professionals to become distinguished among 805 submissions. The panel was impressed by the play’s strong sense of mystery, infused with supernatural elements and humor. Our congratulations and thanks to JuCoby.

This play captures the unsettling sensations of experiencing dreams and nightmares better than anything I've read in a while. It's eerie, steeped in death but surging with life, particularly in the central relationships. I love the way it pulls hope out of a world drenched in sorrow and loss. The stage directions are evocative, helping us imagine how glorious this piece would be fully staged.

'The Red Man' is an extraordinary play, and a wildly entertaining read. The characters pop and crackle with gorgeously-crafted, impressively lively dialogue and real storytelling electricity. I love Johnson's writing so much, and that includes his approach to stage directions, which read like poetry and are frequently as stunning and beautiful as the story itself.

Estranged siblings Jackie and Jacqueline are at the deftly drawn centers of this gothic thriller. The mystery around Jackie's return, the siblings' baggage with their now deceased father, their relitigation of certain aspects of their relationship with one another, and the intrusion of two local cops all kept me reading intently! I love the heightened theatrical overtures (particularly the entrance of the Red Man) and how Johnson used them to get to the emotional heart of his characters.