Black Bastard joins the exciting
“Black History [every] Month” project at Santa Monica Playhouse
“Black History [every] Month” project at Santa Monica Playhouse
With generous support from the We Are Santa Monica Fund, the City of Santa Monica, the Santa Monica Arts Commission, and Playhouse PALS, Santa Monica Playhouse is excited to present Black Bastard for the 2025 Black History [every] Month project, a year-long celebration of works that highlight the rich heritage of Black arts, artists and culture.
“Leaves the audience screaming for more!” @lahiddengems
Queer... Southern... Creole... Black Bastard transports audiences to 1990s Houston in a humorous, heartfelt coming-of-age tale. Jon, an inquisitive Black boy, develops a love for literature until his family fractures, thrusting him into the role of "man of the house." A comedic spiral ensues as Jon grapples with his identiy(ies). When a bully confronts him at school, Jon begins to search for his absent father, but is he ready for what he may find?
***WINNER*** 2024 Soaring Solo Social Impact Award
Through literature, clowning, self-discovery, and original song, the production invokes 90s nostalgia in a jambalaya of memoir, embodied character transformation, and socio-cultural commentary. Confronting stereotypes about absent Black fathers, the show explores broader themes of identity, expression, and our collective search for belonging and ultimately home.
***WINNER*** 2024 Best of Asylum Award
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Jon Joseph Gentry (AEA/SAG-AFTRA) was born and raised in Houston, Texas. He earned his BA in English from Harvard, where he served as President of BlackCAST. He holds an MFA in Acting from the American Conservatory Theater. As a teaching artist, he co-directed “Child Life” with UCSF Children’s Hospital and led acting workshops across the Bay Area. He currently teaches Michael Chekhov Acting Technique at the Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory. His regional theater credits include roles in Clybourne Park, A Christmas Carol, and Romeo and Juliet. On screen, he appeared in TEN, Behold a Lady, Meeting Matt Damon and voiced Preston Garvey in Fallout 4, gaining viral fame.
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