Everybody get in a single-file line by the door and sharpen your pencils—tickets are officially on sale for our first JAG Underground performance: THE LESSON.
THE LESSON is an original show written and performed by Tyrone Davis Jr. (Broadway: WAITRESS; World Premiere: THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA) and directed by Henry Gottfried (Broadway: CABARET, WAITRESS). Tyrone's thoughtful and inquisitive play is masterfully presented through his portrayal of a multitude of characters, all navigating the charged and tenuous topic of sex education.
General Admission: $30
Venue: AVA Gallery, Downtown Lebanon, N.H.
Dates: Saturday, April 20th (7 PM) & Sunday, April 21st (5 PM)
Run Time: 90 minutes
Content Warning: This show contains sexual language, descriptions of sexual behavior, and brief mention of sexual assault.
In THE LESSON, a teacher is dramatically confronted with a child's curiosity about her own body. She must decide in the moment whether to provide an age-appropriate and honest answer or remain silent. The play explores the importance of comprehensive sex education in schools and the pushback it often faces; the discomforts of parenting while helping young children navigate their developing sexualities; and the differing political ideologies surrounding the ways we raise our children.
ARTISTS BIOS
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TYRONE DAVIS JR. (Writer, He/Him)
Tyrone is an actor, musician, and sexuality educator. He wrote The Lesson as a selected participant of the Vision Residency at Ars Nova (New York) in 2023. Credits include: Waitress (Broadway), The Devil Wears Prada (World Premiere/Chicago), The Unsinkable Molly Brown (Transport Group), Invisible Thread (Second Stage), Shrek The Musical (1st Nat. Tour), How The Grinch Stole Christmas (The Old Globe), Witness Uganda (A.R.T.), A Civil War Christmas (Baltimore Center Stage), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Crossroads Theatre Company), Lost Boy Found in Whole Foods (Portland Stage). Film: Waitress: The Musical. TV: Little America (Apple TV+). In 2021, Tyrone was the opening performer for the Annual TED Talks Conference in Monterey, CA. Education: New World School of the Arts. Tyrone is based in NY and is currently in a dual-degree graduate program at Union Theological Seminary and Hunter College, studying for a Master’s in Divinity and a Master’s in Clinical Social Work. @tyronedavisjr on Instagram
HENRY GOTTFRIED (Director, He/Him)
Henry is a theater artist based in New York City. His directing and associate directing credits include projects on Broadway and Off-Broadway, as well as NYC concerts and the development of new plays and musicals. He has also developed new plays as a director/collaborative dramaturg at Ojai Playwrights Conference, Hedgebrook Playwrights Festival, and the Vineyard Arts Project. As an actor, Henry can be seen in this season’s Broadway revival of CABARET as Ernst Ludwig. He has also performed in the Broadway production of WAITRESS, the national tours of BRIGHT STAR and PIPPIN, and the world premiere production of THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA. Henry holds a BA in Theater Studies from Yale University. henrygottfried.com
​OPENING NIGHT:
- Saturday, April 20th at 7:00 PM
Come join us for the opening of Tyrone Davis Jr.’s evocative, dynamic performance of THE LESSON. The show begins at 7 PM at the AVA Gallery in downtown Lebanon. Make sure you book a babysitter, because you’ll want to stick around for the after party…
KICKOFF PARTY:
- Saturday, April 20th at 8:30 PM
Come revel in our community with us after the show, we’ll have drinks, light fare, music… All we need is YOU!
SEX EDUCATION PRE-SHOW DISCUSSION:
- Sunday, April 21st at 3:30 PM
You’ve heard of a talk-back, how about a talk-FRONT? Swing by the AVA Gallery BEFORE the 5 PM showing of THE LESSON for an opportunity to discuss THE LESSON’s most potent question, “What do you wish you had learned about sex?” You can expect a panel of both experts and locals, who have generously volunteered to discuss their experiences with sex education. The panel will be facilitated by JAG Underground’s Creative Producer, Rigel Harris, and audience members will have the opportunity to take the floor with their own stories if they so choose.
For you, your partner, young people, the whole family, for everyone!
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Sex Positive Families
sexpositivefamilies.com
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Amaze
Talk With Your Kids
SIECUS - Sex Ed for Social Change
Planned Parenthood
A MESSAGE FROM THE WRITER & PERFORMER OF THE LESSON
Discover the heartbeat of THE LESSON through this message from its performer and playwright, Tyrone Davis Jr. We cannot wait for you to experience his dynamic and original one-man show on April 20th and 21st at the AVA Gallery.