The Barber and The Unnamed Prince
Written and Directed by Gavin Dillon Lawrence
Choreography by Victor Musoni
Featuring David Alan Anderson, Nathan Barlow, Jonathan Gardner, Shariba Rivers, Cedric G. Young, Josh Krause & La Shawn Banks
Plot Synopsis
A local icon’s death signals the end of an era and the beginning of a new look for a once-predominantly African-American neighborhood in Washington, DC. A barbershop is the backdrop for conversations about gentrification, race and family as the owner, Kofi, considers selling his beloved establishment while keeping his son Prince on the path to success. A funny, touching and devastating world-premiere from APT Core Company Member Gavin Dillon Lawrence.
Please be advised: The Barber and The Unnamed Prince contains scenes of graphic recorded gunshots, police violence, fog/haze, flashing lights and strong language.
Director's Note by Gavin Dillon Lawrence
When my oldest son was a teenager, I took a photo of him as he got a haircut at a Washington, DC barbershop located in the heart of the Adams Morgan neighborhood. This area had, at one time, been one of the most diverse communities in DC, but things were clearly changing and this barbershop was now one of the few Black-owned businesses still standing. It was heartbreaking for me to see that the city where I grew up - the town that we called “Chocolate City” - was changing in a way that systematically excluded the people on whose backs it was built. The picture that I took of my son, however, was even more heartbreaking. He had a look of burden and weariness that I had never seen on his fifteen year old face. It shook me to my core. Was he burdened? Was he weary? Or was he carrying the weight of something that I was unaware of? Had I myself weighed him down with the constant lectures about what to do and what not to do; how to walk and how not to walk; how to be and how not to be to survive as a Black male in this country?
The picture haunted and unsettled me. It wouldn’t leave me alone. One day I found myself asking the question: “If I saw this picture in a museum and had no connection to this young man other than the hue of our skin, what story might I draw from the expression on his face?” It was out of that question that the seeds for this play were planted.
Go-Go music and the Chocolate City I grew up in went hand in hand. Steeped in the African tradition of call and response and driven by drums and percussion, Go-Go was born in the 70’s when band leader, Chuck Brown, started mixing Latin percussive sounds with the structure and melodies of Blues, Jazz, and R&B - all growing out of an African musical sensibility. Go-Go became our best kept secret. If you weren’t from DC, most likely you didn’t know about it. Over the years Chuck Brown came to be known fondly as the Godfather of Go-Go as other artists emerged following in his footsteps, and the music became the heartbeat of Chocolate City. Go-Go was everywhere - in the clubs, in our homes, in our cars and in the streets as ambitious young people created their own Go-Go beats on plastic buckets and bins giving the people exactly what they were thirsty for on Friday and Saturday nights all over the city.
In May of 2012, Chuck Brown joined the ancestors. The irony of Chuck’s leaving us as the gentrification train was pulling into the station did not escape me. So I thought, ‘The passing of a local icon, the changing face of the city, and a father’s love for his “burdened” son. Let’s put them in the same place on the same day at the same time and see what we end up with.’
For Chocolate City. May you, like the Phoenix, rise again.
Learn More About Go-Go Music
Chuck Brown performs on NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concert Series in 2010.
To learn more about Chuck Brown and his legacy as “The Godfather of Go-Go” please visit: thechuckbrownfoundation.com and windmeupchuck.com
Also, please consider supporting the Chuck Brown Foundation by signing their petition to get Go-Go music listed as a category on streaming platforms.
Features & Reviews
American Players Theatre looks to engage diverse audiences, Madison 365
Dozens of Festival Plays Worth Traveling to This Summer, The New York Times
Gavin Dillon Lawrence's new play premieres at American Players Theatre, Isthmus
American Players Theatre Review: "The Barber and The Unnamed Prince," Simpson Street Free Press
Multimedia & Video
Trailer for The Barber and The Unnamed Prince
Coming Soon!
The Barber and The Unnamed Prince on 365 Amplified
Rob is joined by Anna Gonzalez, Alys Dickerson, and Patty Heaston of American Players Theatre to discuss how the repertory company is expanding access and representation in its programming. The conversation highlights their new contemporary production The Barber and The Unnamed Prince, written and directed by Gavin Dillon Lawrence, and a community engagement event hosted at the Black Business Hub. They explore how APT is reaching new audiences through intentional casting, education outreach, and storytelling that resonates across identities and generations.
The Barber and The Unnamed Prince Playlist on Spotify
Dive into the music and cultural legacy of Chuck Brown and his contemporaries in this collection of music that inspired and is featured in APT's 2025 production of The Barber and The Unnamed Prince. Playlist curated by director & playwright Gavin Dillon Lawrence and Communications Coordinator Patty Heaston.
Discussion Questions
What was your favorite moment of the play? Was there a line or character than resonated with you more than others?
Were there any relationships in the play that reminded you of relationships between people in your own life?
How can music impact culture and society? Do artists have a direct responsibility to help shape the culture?
How does music play a role in your life and your relationships with family, friends or community members? Do you have a specific genre of music or set of songs that give you comfort when you need to feel better?
Have you seen or experienced the impact of gentrification in your own life or community? How has your community/home changed over the past 30 years?
Kofi's barbershop is a place folks come to gather, discuss and find community. Do you have a "third place" in your own life that represents this for you?
Different characters offer different generational perspectives in The Barber and The Unnamed Prince. Do you see yourself or your beliefs represented in one character more than the others? Was there a point of view you felt strongly about? Were there any opinions that surprised you?
Credits:
Photos by Hannah Jo Anderson, 2025.