Overview
- The play-with-music opened October 15 at the Public’s Martinson Hall and is scheduled to run through November 2.
- Cooper writes and stars as Keyshawn under Stevie Walker-Webb’s direction, following a 2024 premiere at Baltimore Center Stage.
- The story reframes the Noah’s Ark myth in present-day Laurel, Mississippi, with a trio called the Divines performing gospel-inflected numbers.
- Donald Lawrence provides original songs, with critics praising the Divines’ vocals and production elements including Luciana Stecconi’s set and Qween Jean’s costumes.
- Reviews frequently cite overstuffed plotting, uneven shifts between music and family drama, and an ending that lands softly, with some noting the lead role’s heavy demands on Cooper.