Gary Wilmes Joins Young Jean Lee's Straight White Men at the Public

The cast for the New York premiere of Young Jean Lee’s Straight White Men is complete. As previously announced, Austin Pendelton, Pete Simpson and James Stanley will star in the piece. Gary Wilmes (Chinglish) has replaced the previously announced Scott Shepherd. The production, directed by the author, begins previews at the Public Theater on November 7, and officially opens on November 17.

Straight White Men is Lee’s traditionally structured take on the classic American father-son drama. When Ed (Pendelton) and his three adult sons come together to celebrate Christmas, they enjoy cheerful trash-talking, pranks, and takeout Chinese. Then they confront a problem that even being a happy family can’t solve: when identity matters, and privilege is problematic, what is the value of being a straight white man?

The creative team includes David Evans Morris (scenic design); Christopher Kuhl (lighting design), Chris Giarmo and Jamie McElhinney (sound design), Enver Chakartash (costume design), Faye Driscoll (fight choreography and movement) and Mike Farry (dramaturgy).

Straight White Men will play at the Public’s Martinson Theater through December 7.