Acclaimed prison justice and inequality drama returns Off-Broadway for an encore engagement.
March 10 - April 2 at Gene Frankel Theatre
"A canny blend of finely sculpted autobiography and documentary facts cohesively shaped into a compelling narrative…With its commanding central performance, gripping story and accomplished presentation, A White Man’s Guide to Rikers Island is a rewarding experience.” – TheatreScene.net
An “extraordinary triumph of storytelling.” – Gay City News
“Intelligent, fascinating…extraordinarily vivid and incredibly informative.” – Ewing Reviewing
“Timely and relevant…The moral disgrace of America’s race history is the larger target of this story. From a fascinating point of view, Mr. Roy has taken one man’s journey to illuminate his observations about an enormous systemic injustice.” – Theater Reviews From My Seat
“Entertaining, intriguing and expertly delivered. A worthwhile and gripping story that holds your attention and leaves you thinking twice about anything that might possibly land you in the clink.” -- Theater Pizzazz
After a critically acclaimed and often-extended run in 2019, A WHITE MAN’S GUIDE TO RIKERS ISLAND will return this spring for an encore run. Based on a true story, it is written by Richard Roy (Richard III with Denzel Washington) and Eric C. Webb, directed by Thomas G. Waites (Awake and Sing! starring Frances McDormand, King Richard III starring Al Pacino), and stars Richard Roy and Dillon John Collins.
When a drunk driving incident leads to an involuntary manslaughter charge, a privileged white actor finds himself serving time at Rikers Island, where the population is over 95% people of color. For the first time in his life, Rich is now a minority and his skin color makes him a target. Caught between drug lords, gang members, and his wise trans cellmate, this clueless white man must learn how to survive the violence, horniness, and mind-numbing nothingness that is prison. All while trying to find forgiveness for his crime. Oh, and at the insistence of his Corrections Officer, write A WHITE MAN’S GUIDE TO RIKERS ISLAND for submission to the National Penitentiary Press Competition. Seriously. An eye-opening look inside our broken penal system and a cautionary tale for anyone of any race.
The production features set by Elle Kunnos de Voss, sound by Tony Daniels, and lighting by Luckys. It is produced by Without A Net Productions.
RICHARD ROY (Writer and Performer) was born and raised in Sparta, New Jersey. At 17, he was in the quarter finals in the New York City Golden Gloves at Madison Square Garden. At 19 he turned professional and became a sparring partner with Muhammad Ali (who attended his first professional boxing match). At 22, he retired from boxing and moved to NYC to pursue his career as an actor. Throughout his acting career he appeared in many New York-based soap operas. Favorite stage roles include Hal in Picnic, Andre in Phantom of the Opera and Laertes in Hamlet, as well as a stint in Richard III starring Denzel Washington with The Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park.
THOMAS G. WAITES (Director) is an American actor, director and acting instructor. He founded the TGW Acting Studio in 2000, coaching countless actors including Alfred Molina, Vinnie Pastore, Vinessa Shaw, and Oliver Hudson. As an actor, he starred opposite Daryl Hannah in the film The Clan of the Cave Bear as well as in ...And Justice For All, The Thing, Light of Day, and The Warriors. Waites made his Broadway debut in Teaneck Tanzi opposite Deborah Harry and Andy Kaufman. Other Broadway credits include Awake and Sing! with Frances McDormand and Harry Hamlin, King Richard III starring Al Pacino, and Howard Korder’s Search and Destroy. Off-Broadway he appeared in Clifford Odets’ Paradise Lost opposite Geraldine Page, Alan Bowne’s Forty-Deuce, and David Mamet’s American Buffalo. On TV he has been seen in “Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” “The Equalizer,” “Kojak,” and “Miami Vice.” He has directed numerous Off and Off-Off Broadway plays including the long-running hit Six Goumbas and a Wannabe. Waites directed Joe Mantegna and Frances Fisher in the short film, “Pandora’s Box,” for which he won Best Director in the Atlantic City Film Festival.
ERIC C. WEBB (Writer) is a writer and freelance dramaturg, as well as Director of Creative Development for Davenport Theatrical Enterprises and March Forth Productions. Writing projects currently in development include Breakup-The Musical (with composer Stephanie Bianchi), Thompson/Gifford (a Gothic chamber musical), Booth (a rock retelling of the Lincoln assignation), and Taking Step Three13 (a rock/rap adaptation of “Crime and Punishment” with composer Matt Doers, recently developed at the Johnny Mercer Writers Colony at Goodspeed Musicals. Previous writing credits include The Angels of Mons, Krampusnacht, Orion (short film, produced by Second Star Productions), Ubu (a twisted puppet show co-adapted from Jarry’s Ubu Roi), Playwriting is Easy and Current Currencies.
DILLON JOHN COLLINS (Young Rich) is making his acting debut in A WHITE MAN’S GUIDE TO RIKERS ISLAND. He began studying acting after being introduced to an intensive Meisner-Technique Program which he studied for three years. He was then introduced to Thomas G. Waites who he has studied with for nine months. Studying with Thomas, Dillon has workshopped Long Day’s Journey Into Night playing Edmund Tyrone, This Is Our Youth playing Dennis Ziegler, and“A Streetcar Named Desire playing Stanley Kowalski. Soon after, Dillon wrote, produced, and starred in “SMALL TALK” a short film about his father’s relationship with alcohol, which was directed by J.D. Slater IV.
WITHOUT A NET PRODUCTIONS (Producer) is a gritty group of NYC producers bound by the common goal of converting unique, character-driven story concepts into compelling entertainment that leaves a lasting impression. Guided by the principle that the whole should be greater than the sum of its parts; production value is maximized thanks to equal parts ability, agility and willingness to see a project through to its highest potential. An Emmy nominated producing team with over 10 years experience that covers all media types to bring to life Film, TV, Theatre and everything in between; WITHOUT A NET dives head first and lands firmly on their feet. Previous Theatre Credits include The Austerity of Hope, Stranded on Motor Parkway, Boys of a Certain Age, and Loyalty.
A WHITE MAN’S GUIDE TO RIKERS ISLAND runs March 10 – April 2, Thursday – Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm. Gene Frankel Theatre is located at 24 Bond Street, between Bowery and Lafayette -- accessible from B,D,F,M trains at Broadway/Lafayette or the #6 at Bleecker. Tickets are $35, available at www.rikersplay.com.