April 7 - 25, 2027

WORLD PREMIERE
By Kyle Bass | Directed by Gilbert McCauley

A love letter to Syracuse from the writer of Possessing Harriet.

1950s Syracuse: The Nationals represent the city in the fledgling NBA while the team’s two African American players, among the first Black athletes to play professionally, navigate the sport’s color barrier and new rules as they fight to leave their mark on the court and on the history of the game. Inspired by the true story of “The Nats” and their championship season, Kyle Bass’ The Black Nationals is a fast-paced, imaginative new play that celebrates a defining moment of Central New York history at the dawn of the Civil Rights Movement and invites us to consider a world where, in the game of life, everyone has a fair shot.

“Bass’ plays tell the stories of real-life African-Americans set against the backdrop of some of our most turbulent times.”
– Utica Observer-Dispatch