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Jackalope Theatre Debuts Terry Guests Andy Warhol Presents: The Cocaine Play
The Jackalope Theatre in Chicago opened its doors to a new production, "Andy Warhol Presents: The Cocaine Play," on July 6, 2026. The play, written and directed by Terry Guest, is a fictionalized, three‑act portrait of the artist’s life from 1962 to 1982, presented by an all‑Black ensemble. The show runs just over two hours, with two short intermissions, and is scheduled to play through July 6, with performances on Monday, Friday, and Saturday evenings and a Sunday matinee.
The production follows a growing trend of contemporary dramatists revisiting Warhol’s legacy. In 2023, the suburban Buffalo Theatre Ensemble staged Vince Melocchi’s Andy Warhol’s Tomato, a fictionalized look at the artist’s early years in Pittsburgh. Northlight Theatre presented Brent Askari’s Andy Warhol in Iran, set after Warhol survived an assassination attempt by Valerie Solanas and was living off celebrity commissions. Anthony McCarten’s 2022 play The Collaboration explored the friendship between Warhol and Jean‑Michel Basquiat. Guest’s play adds a new dimension by filtering the iconic figures—Warhol, Marilyn Monroe, and Edie Sedgwick—through a sardonic lens that highlights the intersection of celebrity, friendship, and exploitation.
According to the play’s press release, the characters are played by Black actors, a choice that Guest says invites a fresh commentary on race and the entertainment industry. William Anthony Sebastian Rose II portrays Andy, while David Michael Dowd plays Michael Brown, a fictional friend who never sells a painting but continues to create. Jasmine “Jazzy” Cheri Rush takes on the role of Edie Sedgwick, and Alexis Ward plays Marilyn Monroe. The cast also includes a character named Salvador Dalí, portrayed by Ward in a brief encounter that deepens Andy’s confusion. Guest’s script moves through three decades: 1962, when Andy struggles to find inspiration; 1972, when Michael and Edie face the pressures of the Los Angeles art scene; and 1982, when Andy closes his Factory studio.
The production’s design team has been highlighted in the press release. Sydney Lynne Thomas created a compact, convertible set that is covered in graffiti, including a Basquiat‑like drawing. Levi J. Wilkins designed lighting that turns the Factory loft into a disquieting funhouse, while Maddy Shows handled costume design and Ayanna Bria Bakari served as wig designer and associate director. The set and lighting are described as “silvery reflective emptiness” that underscores the play’s dark tone.
Ticketing information is available on the Jackalope Theatre website. General admission seats cost $37.50, with reserved seats at $47.50. Edgewater residents pay $27.50, seniors $22.50, and students $17.50. The theatre’s phone number is 773‑340‑2543, and the show’s official website is jackalopetheatre.org. The play is scheduled to run through July 6, with no performances on Friday and Saturday, July 3 and 4.
The play’s narrative centers on Andy’s struggle to fill the void in his life and the consequences of his success. In 1962, a chance meeting with Marilyn Monroe at a crab restaurant inspires a painting that becomes his signature work, echoing the real 1962 Marilyn Diptych. Monroe’s death that same year—an overdose of barbiturates at her Los Angeles home—adds to the painting’s commercial value. The play continues to explore themes of isolation, ambition, and the cost of fame, culminating in Andy’s final night at the Factory in 1982.
Guest’s work has been compared to his 2022 play Marie Antoinette and the Magical Negroes, which also examined historical events through a lens of race and oppression. In both cases, Guest uses satire and dark wit to reveal the layers beneath surface appearances.
As the production concludes its run, the Jackalope Theatre will continue to schedule new shows in the fall. The theater’s upcoming lineup includes a revival of The Crucible and a new play by a local playwright. The audience can also look forward to the Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s 2027 season, which will feature a new adaptation of Hamlet.
The play remains a timely exploration of the complexities of celebrity and the art world, offering a new perspective on a figure whose influence continues to shape contemporary culture.
The production follows a growing trend of contemporary dramatists revisiting Warhol’s legacy. In 2023, the suburban Buffalo Theatre Ensemble staged Vince Melocchi’s Andy Warhol’s Tomato, a fictionalized look at the artist’s early years in Pittsburgh. Northlight Theatre presented Brent Askari’s Andy Warhol in Iran, set after Warhol survived an assassination attempt by Valerie Solanas and was living off celebrity commissions. Anthony McCarten’s 2022 play The Collaboration explored the friendship between Warhol and Jean‑Michel Basquiat. Guest’s play adds a new dimension by filtering the iconic figures—Warhol, Marilyn Monroe, and Edie Sedgwick—through a sardonic lens that highlights the intersection of celebrity, friendship, and exploitation.
According to the play’s press release, the characters are played by Black actors, a choice that Guest says invites a fresh commentary on race and the entertainment industry. William Anthony Sebastian Rose II portrays Andy, while David Michael Dowd plays Michael Brown, a fictional friend who never sells a painting but continues to create. Jasmine “Jazzy” Cheri Rush takes on the role of Edie Sedgwick, and Alexis Ward plays Marilyn Monroe. The cast also includes a character named Salvador Dalí, portrayed by Ward in a brief encounter that deepens Andy’s confusion. Guest’s script moves through three decades: 1962, when Andy struggles to find inspiration; 1972, when Michael and Edie face the pressures of the Los Angeles art scene; and 1982, when Andy closes his Factory studio.
The production’s design team has been highlighted in the press release. Sydney Lynne Thomas created a compact, convertible set that is covered in graffiti, including a Basquiat‑like drawing. Levi J. Wilkins designed lighting that turns the Factory loft into a disquieting funhouse, while Maddy Shows handled costume design and Ayanna Bria Bakari served as wig designer and associate director. The set and lighting are described as “silvery reflective emptiness” that underscores the play’s dark tone.
Ticketing information is available on the Jackalope Theatre website. General admission seats cost $37.50, with reserved seats at $47.50. Edgewater residents pay $27.50, seniors $22.50, and students $17.50. The theatre’s phone number is 773‑340‑2543, and the show’s official website is jackalopetheatre.org. The play is scheduled to run through July 6, with no performances on Friday and Saturday, July 3 and 4.
The play’s narrative centers on Andy’s struggle to fill the void in his life and the consequences of his success. In 1962, a chance meeting with Marilyn Monroe at a crab restaurant inspires a painting that becomes his signature work, echoing the real 1962 Marilyn Diptych. Monroe’s death that same year—an overdose of barbiturates at her Los Angeles home—adds to the painting’s commercial value. The play continues to explore themes of isolation, ambition, and the cost of fame, culminating in Andy’s final night at the Factory in 1982.
Guest’s work has been compared to his 2022 play Marie Antoinette and the Magical Negroes, which also examined historical events through a lens of race and oppression. In both cases, Guest uses satire and dark wit to reveal the layers beneath surface appearances.
As the production concludes its run, the Jackalope Theatre will continue to schedule new shows in the fall. The theater’s upcoming lineup includes a revival of The Crucible and a new play by a local playwright. The audience can also look forward to the Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s 2027 season, which will feature a new adaptation of Hamlet.
The play remains a timely exploration of the complexities of celebrity and the art world, offering a new perspective on a figure whose influence continues to shape contemporary culture.
