Arizona premiere of 'The Submission' performed at West campus

A young white playwright writes a complex new drama about an African American family trying to get out of the projects, and it’s selected for the nation’s preeminent play festival. However, he submitted the work under a pen name in the hope of increasing its chances for production. So he hires a black actress to stand in for him as author, and then the trouble begins.

That is the premise of “The Submission,” an acclaimed new play by Jeff Talbott. The play makes its Arizona premiere Feb. 27 through March 2 at Arizona State University’s West campus.

A co-production with iTheatre Collaborative, “The Submission” is directed by Charles St. Clair, a faculty member in ASU’s New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences. New College is the core college on the West campus.

“This is a searing, no-holds-barred, controversial and intelligent new comic drama about the words we use to describe each other and the things we’ll do to get what we want,” St. Clair said.

Cast members include Richard Bates, Nicole Belit, Kyle Lambros and Randy Rice.

“The Submission” received the New York Outer Critics Circle John Gassner Award and the 2011 Laurents/Hatcher Award for best new play.

The play is recommended for mature audiences only.

Performances are set for Feb. 27 through March 1 at 7:30 p.m., and on March 2 at 3:00 p.m., in Second Stage West, lower level of the University Center Building. The West campus is at 4701 W. Thunderbird Road in Phoenix.

Ticket prices are $10 for general admission, $7 for seniors and $5 for students. Parking in the visitor lot on Thursday, Feb. 27 costs $2 per hour; parking for other performances is free.

Tickets may be purchased online by visiting www.brownpapertickets.com and searching “Arizona State University.” For more information about this and other upcoming arts events at ASU’s West campus, visit http://campus.asu.edu/west/events or search for “ASU West Events” on Facebook.