An estranged biracial couple must confront their feelings about race and bias after their son is detained by the local police following a traffic stop incident.
The story unfolds over a single night as Kendra, a Black mother, desperately seeks answers about the whereabouts of her teenage son, Jamal, who has gone missing after an encounter with the police. As tensions escalate, Kendra is joined by her estranged white husband, Scott, and their clashing perspectives expose deep-seated issues of race, privilege and systemic bias.
Set in a Florida police station, American Son is a gripping tale of two parents caught in our national divide, with their worst fears hanging in the balance. This tense and emotionally charged drama is a compelling exploration of contemporary social issues.
American Son is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com.
The world premiere of American Son was presented at Barrington Stage Compnay, Pittsfield, MA, in 2016, Julianne Boyd, Artistic Director and Tristan Wilson, Managing Director.
Original Broadway Production produced by Jeffrey Richards; Simpson Street; Rebecca Gold; Will Trice; Stephen C. Byrd; Alia Jones-Harvey; Nnamdi Asomugha; Domnick LaRuffa, Jr. & Co.; Greenleaf Productions; Van Kaplan; Willette & Manuel Klausner; Jada Pinkett Smith; The Miami Group; Lu-Shawn M. Thompson; Act 4 Entertainment; Gabrielle Palitz; Carl & Robin Washington; Bruce Robert Harris and Jack W. Batman; Shonda Rhimes; Bellanca Smigel Rutter; Salmira & Son; Jayne Baron Sherman; Steve Stoute for United Masters; Steven Toll; Dwyane Wade; Gabrielle Union-Wade; and The Shubert Organization."
Please note: A talkback with members of the cast and the director is scheduled after the performance on Sunday, September 20.
Talkbacks are moderated and give audiences the opportunity to ask questions about the performances, staging, costumes, plot, etc. Talkbacks are meant to be a two-way dialogue in which the audience poses questions and offers opinions as they engage with the performers and creative team on issues in the play that warrant a deeper conversation, including race, inclusion and equal dignity, or the political landscape of our times. These conversations generally last 30 minutes and are an excellent opportunity to explore a play firsthand.
Details
What: American Son
Where: Friendship Community Place, 5150 N Northwest Highway, Chicago, IL 60630
When: September 18 through October 4, 2026
What time: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.
There will be a preview performance on Thursday, September 17 and an understudy performance on Monday, September 28.
How much: Tickets are pay-what-you-will, with an average donation of $25. Audience members who are financially able to donate more help offset the cost for those who can’t afford to give. For the preview performance on Thursday, September 17, the suggested donation is $15.
G.E.T. your tickets now!
Transportation Information: Friendship Community Place is right off of I-90 at the intersection of Northwest Highway and Milwaukee Avenue. There is ample street parking along both streets. Please do NOT park in the lot directly behind the venue. It is residential parking and you may be towed.
The location is also a short walk from the Jefferson Park Transit Center. You can get to the transit center via the blue line, Metra UP-NW, as well as CTA Buses #56, #68, #81, #81W, #85, #85A, #88, #91, #92, and Pace Buses #225, #226, #270.
The #68 (Northwest Highway) south bus pulls up directly in front of their door, and the #85 (Central), #85A (North Centra) and #92 (Foster) north buses stop across the street. For more information, visit www.transitchicago.com