From February 5 to March 1, 2026, ArtsWest, in a co-production with The Hansberry Project, will present Suzan-Lori Parks' Pulitzer Prize-winning contemporary classic, TOPDOG/UNDERDOG. Directed by Valerie Curtis-Newton, the play has been recognized by The New York Times as the #1 play of the last 25 years.
The production is described as a "darkly comic fable" that delves into the complex lives of two brothers, Lincoln and Booth. Named as a joke by their father, the two men find themselves trapped in a cycle of sibling rivalry and resentment while living in a rooming house room no larger than a boxing ring. This cramped setting serves as a "pressure cooker" as the brothers attempt to carve out their own futures while grappling with a past and a system that is fundamentally "rigged" against them.
The play’s intense atmosphere is balanced by its humor and lyrical quality. Entertainment Weekly describes the work as “tough, it’s gritty, it’s beautiful, it’s poetry, and it’s pretty damn funny”.
Director Valerie Curtis-Newton highlights the psychological toll of the brothers' environment, noting that the struggle for dominance is never-ending. “The life of a dog in the fight is a life that breeds paranoia,” Curtis-Newton remarks. “The under dog is always watching their back and struggling to reach the top. The top dog gets to call the shots, but for how long?". She views the play as an essential investigation into these dynamics, stating, "TOPDOG/UNDERDOG puts the pain of that cycle under a microscope with the hope that in investigating it, we can learn to break it”.
The production stars ML Roberts as Lincoln and Yusef Seevers as Booth. Given the intensity of the themes and the "gritty" nature of the story, the production carries a content advisory equivalent to an R-rated movie. This "unforgettable" and "experiential" production promises to be a powerful exploration of family identity and the struggle for success in modern America.
