Information Americas, New York, Mon. Nov. 10, 2025: Legendary Jamaican actor and comic Oliver Samuels is returning to the U.S. stage this month — and he’s doing it for a trigger. His latest comedy, Di Prodigal Pickney, will make its American premiere within the New York Tri-State space, with half proceeds going on to hurricane reduction efforts in Jamaica following the devastation attributable to Hurricane Melissa.
The manufacturing, written, directed, and headlined by Samuels, will tour Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey throughout two weekends, with ultimate performances in Maryland in early December.
Performances are scheduled for:
- Bridgeport, Connecticut – Central Excessive Faculty (Fri. Nov. 14)
- Brooklyn, New York – Wingate Excessive Faculty (Sat. Nov. 15)
- East Orange, New Jersey – Cicely Tyson Faculty for the Performing Arts (Solar. Nov. 16)
- Jamaica, Queens – Springfield Gardens Excessive Faculty (Fri. Nov. 21)
- Hartford, Connecticut – Thomas Weaver Excessive Faculty (Sat. Nov. 22)
- The Bronx – Harry S. Truman Excessive Faculty (Solar. Nov. 23)
The tour concludes Dec. 7 at Excessive Level Excessive Faculty in Beltsville, Maryland.
New Jersey-based producer Patrick M. Reid mentioned the choice to dedicate a part of the present’s proceeds to hurricane restoration got here swiftly after the Class 5 storm ravaged Jamaica’s western area on October 28.
“We had been eagerly anticipating Oliver’s return to the New York space,” Reid defined, “however as soon as we noticed the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Melissa, we knew we needed to do one thing. Half proceeds from the U.S. premiere will now go to the Jamaica Group of New Jersey, which is actively fundraising for reduction. Oliver himself is deeply dedicated to the trigger and will probably be selling the hassle throughout main media platforms.”
The Westwood Excessive Faculty for Women Alumnae Chapter in New York will even obtain proceeds. Their college in Trelawny suffered extreme hurricane injury, together with the destruction of its newly constructed medical clinic, auditorium, school rooms, and boarding amenities.
“They have been already fundraising to complete their clinic,” Reid added. “Melissa set them again enormously. We hope audiences will end up in massive numbers to assist rebuild Westwood and Jamaica, whereas having fun with a manufacturing that’s each hilarious and heartwarming.”
Set in Jamaica, Di Prodigal Pickney reimagines the Biblical parable of the Prodigal Son via a distinctly Caribbean lens. Samuels stars alongside acclaimed actress Karen Harriott and rising expertise Tesfa Edwards as a Jamaican household whose world unravels when their spoiled son calls for his inheritance early. The play blends sharp wit and social commentary with laughter, exploring forgiveness, household bonds and trendy parenting.
“Spare the rod and spoil the kid at your peril!” Samuels quipped, noting that the play’s mixture of comedy and conscience has resonated with worldwide audiences from Canada to St. Kitts, St. Maarten, and the U.Okay., the place it acquired rave opinions.
With over 60 stage productions to his identify, Oliver Samuels – affectionately dubbed “Jamaica’s King of Comedy” – has spent greater than 5 many years shaping Caribbean theatre. He first made his mark within the Jamaican Nationwide Pantomime “Music Boy” alongside cultural icon Louise Bennett-Coverley (Miss Lou), and later appeared in movies similar to The Mighty Quinn (with Denzel Washington) and Nice Moments in Aviation (with Vanessa Redgrave).
Samuels’ accolades embrace the Jamaican Actor Boy Award, the Silver Musgrave Medal, an Honorary Physician of Letters from the College of the West Indies, and nationwide honors — the Order of Distinction (Officer and Commander lessons) — for his contribution to the humanities.
The U.S. premiere of Di Prodigal Pickney is introduced bySky’s The Restrict Basis and Jammins Occasions in collaboration with STL Promotions.
Tickets and extra data can be found at STLVentures.org or by calling 973-801-1923 and 929-242-9156 (Westwood Alumnae line).
With laughter as its automobile and compassion as its engine, Di Prodigal Pickney guarantees to deliver pleasure to audiences whereas serving to rebuild houses, colleges, and hope in Jamaica.
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