TheatreSquared’s ‘Sons of the Prophet’ opens this week

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Bold. Deep. Ravishing. These are just a few of the words that critics have used to describe Stephen Karam’s award winning comedy “Sons of the Prophet,” set to open at TheatreSquared this week.

As we’ve come to know over the years, TheatreSquared does not shy away from the good stuff.

“Sons of the Prophet” was a 2012 finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in Drama, and the production recently won 2012 Lucille Lortel and New York Drama Critics awards for Best Play.

“Sometimes, and only rarely, choosing the new season for TheatreSquared is made easier by the emergence of a simply exceptional play,” said Robert Ford, T2 artistic director. “‘Sons of the Prophet’ is that play. It is universally acclaimed to be one of the smartest, funniest and deeply felt new works that has been written in this decade—and we agree. I’m thrilled that TheatreSquared and Northwest Arkansas will host the play’s first national production since its New York debut.”

“Sons of the Prophet” follows Joseph, a former track star, who struggles to manage a dead-end job, mysterious pain and a family tragedy. The only thing more dysfunctional than his health, it seems, is his nonexistent love life as a gay Lebanese-American in small-town Pennsylvania. When a reporter gets too close and things get weird with his eccentric boss, Joseph’s wit and worn-out family may be all that’s left to keep him sane.

The local production is directed by Tamara Fisch of New York, who will lead a cast and creative team from New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, and Northwest Arkansas.

The contemporary comedy-drama opens with a preview performance on Valentine’s Day on Thursday, Feb. 14, and runs through Sunday, March 3.

Tickets start at $22 ($10/under 30), and are available by calling the Walton Arts Center box office at 479-443-5600, or at waltonartscenter.org.