How It’s Gon’ Be
by JuCoby Johnson
directed by Ahmed Best
September 16th-October 23rd
With adulthood looming in the distance, Jahaan and his friends enjoy the last precious moments of summer vacation. When Jahaan’s father returns after a year away, the world stops spinning for a moment and lines are drawn in the sand. A poetic exploration of missed connections and feelings too great to speak aloud.
Stage Scene LA
“WOW!… HEARTBREAKING AND HEARTWARMING… a dramatic stunner as universal as it is specific, and the latest must-see from Echo Theater Company.” — Steven Stanley, Stage Scene LA
Stage Raw
“STAGE RAW TOP TEN… RECOMMENDED… speaks to the human need for intimacy and love, and to the hurt inside us that stands in the way of our attaining what we long for the most.” — Deborah Klugman, Stage Raw
2 Urban Girls
“WONDERFULLY WRITTEN… full of emotion.” — Emilie St. John, 2 Urban Girls
Theater Digest
“WORTH SEEING… JuCoby Johnson’s writing thrusts you right back into how embarrassing and loaded everything feels when you’re a teen, and Ahmed Best directs the cast to bring Johnson’s words to life beautifully.” — Katie Buenneke, Theater Digest
Glamgical
“POETIC AND ENGAGING… a moving play that explores the outcomes when love and art are combined to answer our most pressing existential issues.” — Joe Mosqueda, Glamgical
People’s World
“FULL OF LYRICISM AND LIGHT… The acting is stupendous and the direction is witty and fine-tuned.” — Eric Gordon, People’s World
The Nerds of Color
“GORGEOUS… Los Angeles theatre at its absolute finest… [a] gem of a play.” — Edward Hong, The Nerd of Color
featuring
Donte Ashon Green
Michael Howard-Dossett
Nona Parker Johnson
Durran Moreau
Karla Mosley
Sedale Threatt Jr
Amanda Knehans Scenic Design
Justin Huen Lighting Design
Alysha Bermudez Sound Design
Anne Closs-Farley Costume design
Sophia Grose Co-Costume design
Blu Moreno Assistant Costume design
produced by Chris Fields and Kelly Beech
associate producers Troy Leigh-Anne Johnson and Sam Morelos
production stage manager Jenny Park
JuCoby Johnson has been seen onstage at The Guthrie Theater, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The Jungle Theater, Theater Latté Da, Theater Mu, Ten Thousand Things Theatre Company, and many more. His plays include How It’s Gon Be (Underdog Theater, 2019), …but you could’ve held my hand (2020 O’Neill NPC Summer Season), 5 (2022 O’Neill NPC Summer Season, 2021 O’Neill NPC Finalist, Seven Devils Finalist), I’ll Be Seeing You Again (Jungle Serial Audio Series, 2021) and Revelations (Playing On Air, 2021). He was a 2021-2022 McKnight Fellow in Playwriting and is currently an Artistic Associate at The Jungle Theater..