Measuring Worth with Drops of Blood in 'An Octoroon'

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' new play, "An Octoroon," is a fresh take on the Irish author, Dion Boucicault’s nineteenth century play, "The Octoroon." Judge Peyton is dead, and his plantation, Terrebonne, is in financial ruins. Peyton’s handsome nephew George arrives as heir apparent, and quickly falls in love with Zoe, a beautiful “octoroon” (Someone who is one-eighth black). But, the evil overseer M’Closky has other plans — for both Terrebonne and Zoe. 

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins will be joined by the stars of the show, Austin Smith and Haynes Thigpen. The play will run through March 15 at the Theatre for a New Audience's Polonsky Shakespeare Center.