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West Coast Premiere

The First Deep Breath

02.01 – 03.05.2023

Written By
Lee Edward Colston II
Directed By
Steve H. Broadnax III
Featuring
Opa Adeyemo, Lee Edward Colston II, Brandon Mendez Homer, Ella Joyce, Herb Newsome, Deanna Reed-Foster, Candace Thomas & Keith A. Wallace

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AUDIENCE REACTIONS

OVERVIEW

Pastor Albert Jones and his family are proud leaders of the Mother Bethel Baptist Church and pillars of their community. Plans are being made for a special memorial service to honor their late daughter Diane on the sixth anniversary of her passing. But when Abdul-Malik, the eldest son whom Albert blames for her death, returns home from prison, the family’s veneer begins to crack as shocking revelations come to light. A ferocious new epic written by Lee Edward Colston II, The First Deep Breath chronicles the depths families will go to hide their skeletons from the outside world and each other.

Performance Information

Runtime
3 hours and 45 minutes, including two intermissions.
Warnings

Strobe Lighting Effects • Theatrical Haze and Smoke Effects

Content Advisory: This production contains profanity, sexual themes, staged combat, and adult subject matter.

Age Recommendation: 14+
All Geffen Playhouse productions are intended for an adult audience; children under 6 years of age will not be admitted.

Cast Notice: The role of “Pastor Albert Melvin Jones III” will be performed by Herb Newsome.

Gil Cates Theater
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“An Unapologetic Force of Nature.” “Colston doesn't so much end his play as detonate it.” “Wildy Entertaining!” “A juggernaut of family, race, and personal issues.” “A powerful psychological study.” “Colston is very much a talent to watch.” “An Unapologetic Force of Nature.” “Colston doesn't so much end his play as detonate it.” “Wildy Entertaining!” “A juggernaut of family, race, and personal issues.” “A powerful psychological study.” “Colston is very much a talent to watch.” “An Unapologetic Force of Nature.” “Colston doesn't so much end his play as detonate it.” “Wildy Entertaining!” “A juggernaut of family, race, and personal issues.” “A powerful psychological study.” “Colston is very much a talent to watch.”
“An Unapologetic Force of Nature.”

— LA Sentinel

“Colston doesn't so much end his play as detonate it.”

— Los Angeles Times

“Wildy Entertaining!”

— Cultural Attaché

“A juggernaut of family, race, and personal issues.”

— Press Pass LA

“A powerful psychological study.”

— Splash Magazines

“Colston is very much a talent to watch.”

— Arts Beat LA

Cast

AJ (Alexander Michael Jones)
Actor

Opa Adeyemo

AJ (Alexander Michael Jones)

Abdul-Malik (Albert Melvin Jones IV)
Actor

Lee Edward Colston II

Abdul-Malik (Albert Melvin Jones IV)

Leslie Carter
Actor

Brandon Mendez Homer

Leslie Carter

Ruth Jones
Actor

Ella Joyce

Ruth Jones

Pastor Albert Melvin Jones III
Actor

Herb Newsome

Pastor Albert Melvin Jones III

Pearl Thomas
Actor

Deanna Reed-Foster

Pearl Thomas

Dee-Dee (Denise Jones)
Actor

Candace Thomas

Dee-Dee (Denise Jones)

Tyree Fisher
Actor

Keith A. Wallace

Tyree Fisher

Understudies

u/s Tyree Fisher, Leslie Carter
Actor

Jalen Gilbert

u/s Tyree Fisher, Leslie Carter

u/s Pastor Albert Melvin Jones III
Actor

Christopher Guyton

u/s Pastor Albert Melvin Jones III

u/s Abdul-Malik (Albert Melvin Jones IV)
Actor

Gerard Joseph

u/s Abdul-Malik (Albert Melvin Jones IV)

u/s Ruth Jones, Pearl Thomas
Actor

Monica Parks

u/s Ruth Jones, Pearl Thomas

u/s Dee Dee (Denise Jones)
Actor

Nedra Snipes

u/s Dee Dee (Denise Jones)

u/s AJ (Alexander Michael Jones)
Actor

Donovan Woods

u/s AJ (Alexander Michael Jones)

Credits

Gallery

News

The First Deep Breath Playbill

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Geffen Playhouse
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