A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

Last Night and the Night Before

Full-Length Play, Drama  /  3w, 1m, 1girl(s)

Donnetta Lavinia Grays

When Monique and her 10-year-old daughter Samantha show up unexpectedly on her sister’s Brooklyn doorstep, it’s the beginning of the end for Rachel and her partner Nadima’s orderly lifestyle. Monique is on the run from deep trouble, her husband Reggie is nowhere to be seen, and Samantha becomes ever haunted by the life in southern Georgia she was forced to leave behind.

Last Night and the Night Before

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3w, 1m, 1girl(s)
  • Duration
    Duration
    120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! 2015 Todd McNerney National Playwriting Contest

Details

Summary
When Monique and her 10-year-old daughter Samantha show up unexpectedly on her sister’s Brooklyn doorstep, it’s the beginning of the end for Rachel and her partner Nadima’s orderly lifestyle. Monique is on the run from deep trouble, her husband Reggie is nowhere to be seen and Samantha becomes ever haunted by the life in southern Georgia she was forced to leave behind. Poetic, dark and often deeply funny, Last Night and the Night Before explores the power, necessity, and beauty of loss.
History
Last Night and the Night Before received its world premiere at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts on 25 January 2019. The show made its Chicago premiere at Steppenwolf Theater company on 16 April 2023.
Keywords
Performing Groups

SAM – A 10-year old girl. Smart. Sharp. Inquisitive. Dark. Loving.
MONIQUE – Sam’s mother. Early-mid 20s. A poet. A lost soul. Loving.
REGGIE – Sam’s father. Early-mid 20s. Loving to a fault. Boyish. Unfaltering.
RACHEL – Sam’s aunt. Monique’s sister. Mid-30s. Warm-hearted. Steely but with cracks. Guilt-ridden. Loving.
NADIMA – Rachel’s girlfriend. Mid-30s. Playful. Charming. Funny. Fiercely protective. Loving.

All characters are African-American.

  • Time Period Present Day
  • Setting A smartly decorated Brooklyn brownstone. Today.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Strong Language
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“Last Night and the Night Before is a powerful portrait of family ties in crisis.” – Chicago Reader

“Last Night and the Night Before is stuff strong enough to make you laugh, cry and remain engaged throughout.” – Chicago Sun-Times

“A moving portrait of a Black family navigating a pivotal moment of transition.” – BroadwayWorld

“Last Night And The Night Before perfectly blends wit and intense emotions that will have you on the edge of your seat watching this... flawless production by the exceptional playwright Donnetta Lavinia Grays. It will definitely be one of our yearly top ten plays and is a Must-See!” – Let's Play Theatrical Reviews

Videos

  • Steppenwolf Theatre Company Teaser youtube thumbnail

    Steppenwolf Theatre Company Teaser

  • Audience Response youtube thumbnail

    Audience Response

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

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Authors

Donnetta Lavinia Grays

Donnetta Lavinia Grays

Donnetta Lavinia Grays is the author of Where We Stand (Lucille Lortel, Drama League, AUDELCO and Broadway Black award nominee), Last Night and the Night Before, Warriors Don’t Cry, Laid to Rest and The Review or How to Eat Your Opposition. She is the recipient of The Whiting ...

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