Blackfriars Theatre: the 75th Anniversary Season Presents DOT
*The event has already taken place on this date: Sun, 12/29/2024
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Keep it real this holiday season with Blackfriars Theatre (795 East Main Street) as they present Colman Domingo’s Dot, running December 13-29.
When it comes to holiday hits with humor and heart, Dot, by film and television star Colman Domingo, leads the pack. Featuring a middle-class West Philadelphia family, Dot tells the story of three middle-aged children coming home for the holidays … and bringing their emotional baggage with them. As Dotty’s mental decline worsens, her kids—an overwhelmed attorney, a gay musicologist with marital problems, and an aspiring actress hoping to appear on “Celebrity Mud Fight”—clash on everything from diets to caring for their beloved matriarch. This hilarious and moving new play grapples with aging parents, midlife crises, and the heart of an inner-city neighborhood.
There are several reasons that Blackfriars chose Dot to fill their holiday slot this season, none more important than its relatable themes and accessible vibe. "I believe DOT represents the kind of theatre that Blackfriars does really well,” says Blackfriars executive director, Mary Tiballi Hoffman. “It’s a thoughtful and often surprising piece that grapples with very real, challenging topics, but it does so in a way that is rooted in joy, warmth and intimacy. We're excited to offer Rochester theatre-goers a holiday story that is new and will make them think about and their own relationships with their families this holiday season."
Director Eno Okung, who is leading the charge for Blackfriars on this production, is leaning into the real-life, no-holds-barred drama of the family dynamic: “Audiences should expect to see what makes being home for the holidays both something wonderful to look forward to, and the reason that we choose to see some people only once a year. Dot has wonderful moments of joy and love, as well as some moments of friction, frustration and anger. It is a humor rich portrayal of the ups and downs of one Philadelphia family’s Christmas celebration.”
Blackfriars Theatre provides an intimate theatre-going experience, with 126 seats in a wraparound configuration—audiences are never more than thirty feet from an actor on stage. Because of the limited seating, it is always recommended that patrons purchase their tickets early to ensure availability. Audiences can see Dot at Blackfriars Theatre through December 29th.
Blackfriars Theatre is a mid-sized professional theatre that has entertained audiences for 75 years in downtown Rochester, New York. Our mission is to enrich, entertain and inspire our community through exceptional theatrical arts while engaging local talent. Our 24/25 season was painstakingly crafted with theatrical gems that are sure to please:
Sept 6-22 - SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET | Steven Sondheim, Hugh Wheeler
Oct 24-Nov 3 - POTUS | Selina Filinger
Dec 13-29 - DOT | Colman Domingo
Jan 31-Feb 16 - THE MOUSETRAP | Agatha Christie
Mar 20-30 - EVERY BRILLIANT THING | Duncan Macmillian with Jonny Donahoe
May 9-25 - THE NOTEWORTHY LIFE OF HOWARD BARNES | Michael Koomin & Christopher Dimond
All of our artists, from our actors to our designers, are local Rochester residents, which means that when you choose Blackfriars, you're choosing local! With a mission to maintain accessibility and provide the most affordable prices of any professional theatre in the area, there's nothing to lose. First Saturday of each run is ASL-interpreted!
*Times, dates, and prices of any activity posted to our calendars are subject to change. Please be sure to click through directly to the organization’s website to verify.