The Book of Grace. Suzan-Lori Parks

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       Books by Suzan-Lori Parks Available from TCG

       The America Play and Other Works

       Also Includes:

       Betting on the Dust Commander

       The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World

       Devotees in the Garden of Love

       Imperceptible Mutabilities in the Third Kingdom

       Pickling

       Essays

       The Book of Grace

       Father Comes Home from the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3)

       The Red Letter Plays

       Includes:

       Fucking A

       In the Blood

       365 Days/365 Plays

       Topdog/Underdog

       Venus

      The Book of Grace is copyright © 2016 by Suzan-Lori Parks

      The Book of Grace is published by Theatre Communications Group, Inc.,

      520 Eighth Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10018-4156

      All rights reserved. Except for brief passages quoted in newspaper, magazine, radio or television reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that this material, being fully protected under the Copyright Laws of the United States of America and all other countries of the Berne and Universal Copyright Conventions, is subject to a royalty.

      All rights, including but not limited to, professional, amateur, recording, motion picture, recitation, lecturing, public reading, radio and television broadcasting, and the rights of translation into foreign languages are expressly reserved. Particular emphasis is placed on the question of readings and all uses of this book by educational institutions, permission for which must be secured from the author’s representative: Mark Subias, United Talent Agency, 888 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10106, [phone].

      The publication of The Book of Grace, by Suzan-Lori Parks, through TCG’s Book Program, is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

      Special thanks to Paula Marie Black for her generous support of this publication.

      TCG books are exclusively distributed to the book trade by Consortium Book Sales and Distribution.

      Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

      Parks, Suzan-Lori.

      The book of grace / Suzan-Lori Parks.

      pages; cm

      ISBN 978-1-55936-646-5 (ebook)

      1. Fathers and sons—Texas—Drama. I. Title.

      PS3566.A736B66 2015

      812’.54—dc23 2014044577

      Book design and composition by Lisa Govan

      Cover painting and design by Rodrigo Corral Studio/June Park

      First Edition, January 2016

       For Buddy

       And for Stephanie Ellen

      Contents

Production History

Author’s Note on the Productions

Characters

From the Author’s Elements of Style

Prologue

Chapter 47

      Chapter 48

      Chapter 49

      Chapter 50

      Chapter 51

      Chapter 52

      Chapter 53

      Chapter 54

      Chapter X

       Production History

      The Book of Grace had its world premiere at The Public Theater (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Andrew D. Hamingson, Executive Director) in New York on March 17, 2010. It was directed by James Macdonald; the set design was by Eugene Lee, the costume design was by Susan Hilferty, the lighting design was by Jean Kalman, the sound design was by Dan Moses Schreier, the projection/video design was by Jeff Sugg; the dramaturg was John Dias and the production stage manager was Amy McCraney. The cast was:

Vet	John Doman
Buddy	Amari Cheatom
Grace	Elizabeth Marvel

      The Book of Grace opened at ZACH Theatre (Dave Steakley, Producing Artistic Director; Elisbeth Challener, Managing Director) in Austin, Texas, on June 4, 2011. It was directed by the author; the set and costume design were by Michael Raiford, the lighting design was by Jason Amato, the sound design was by Antonio Garfias, the video design was by Colin Lowry; the stage mangers were Ian Scott and Carmela Valdez. The cast was:

Vet	Eugene Lee
Buddy	Shaun Patrick Tubbs
Grace	Nadine Mozon

       Author’s Note on the Productions

      A Whole Can of Worms

      In NYC, at The Public, we worked with a superb multiracial cast. In Austin, at ZACH, we worked with an equally superb cast, and chose to go ABC (All Black Casting). I feel that a monochromatic casting allows the production to embrace the more profound and thorny themes of the play. That said, I also understand that any casting choice will, especially with this play, open up its own can of worms.

       Characters

       Vet

       Buddy

       Grace

       Setting

      A house in a small town near the Border.

       From the Author’s Elements of Style

      I’m continuing the use of my slightly unconventional theatrical elements. Here’s a road map.

       (Rest)

       Take a little time, a pause, a breather; make a transition.