It is truly an honor to return to Steppenwolf to help bring this fine play by Mat Smart to life. A play that jumps off the page, literally from the top of the key. When I was first asked to embark on this project, I wondered who this writer was. I wasn’t familiar with his work, and I had some questions about what I might be getting myself into. Sometimes it can be a rocky road with a new untested script—always a welcomed challenge, but something I had to think about. But after meeting Mat and reading his script, I felt the warmth and passion not only on the page, but in the man. I couldn’t wait to undertake this journey, and explore, and create this world with him. I felt like I had known him for years and we were definitely about to make something special happen. I have followed Steppenwolf for Young Adults audiences for years and have seen such powerful plays come out of the series. So I was eager to be a part of this year’s commitment to our young people and one of our bright new voices of the theatre.
The play deals with two brothers who couldn’t be more different, but both are dealing with an inner spirit. Both need to know who they really are—one is eager to find out and the other scared of what he might learn, but both are on the same road to discovery. Samuel J. and K. evokes that need in us all to explore who we are and discover who we are in the early years of life. I couldn’t help but relate to the lives portrayed in the play and the spirit it evoked in me, as well. Among other things, it considers what family means and the importance of our past as it relates to our future. It made me think about my relationship with my own brother. Even though neither of us are of a different race or adopted, the relationship in the play seemed very close to home. When I look for something to direct, I look for a play that I can grasp onto. And this play did that for me. In fact, it made me call my brother.
As a sports fan, it was fun having basketball as a big part of the audition process. So much in life is settled on the court or the gridiron or the baseball diamond. No different here. We had to have brothers who could play. Basically, you could be a great actor, but if you had no game you weren’t going to be able to hang.
I hope this play does for the audience what it did for me. It made me think about my own family and my relationship with them. I thought “maybe I will go home and hug my brother.” I hope audiences will think the same way. Maybe they will go home and hug their brothers and sisters and kiss their moms and dads after the show. I hope the play makes people want to learn more about Cameroon. It made me go to the library and get some books about Cameroon to see what it is like. In America, we often have such an ignorant view of Africa, from negative images in the media. Finally, I hope there is conversation when the audience leaves the theater. A lot of times people leave the theater talking about where to have dinner. I like plays that make people talk about the experience they just had.
In my work as a director, my mission is to educate and entertain wherever possible, and I believe with Samuel J. and K. we will achieve both goals splendidly. My career started when a theatre company came to my junior high school in Buffalo, New York—it affected me profoundly. It led to my becoming an actor and director. Samuel J. and K. takes us on a journey that I believe many young men and women will be able to relate to. If we can move one student to explore, discover and achieve their goals in life—then we will have achieved one of ours.
--Ron OJ Parson