FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Corey Frier-Ritsch
cfrier@everymantheatre.org
Following the Success of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, Everyman Theatre Welcomes Accomplished Theater/Film/TV Actor RJ Brown to its Resident Company of Artists
BALTIMORE, MD (10/16/25) – On the heels of RJ Brown’s acclaimed performance in Everyman’s production of August Wilson’s masterpiece The Piano Lesson, Everyman Theatre announced today that the celebrated actor will be joining its esteemed Resident Company of Actors. Everyman’s entry in the multi-year Baltimore August Wilson Celebration became the highest selling season opener in the history of Everyman Theatre. Brown’s place in the Resident Company strengthens Everyman’s commitment to presenting powerful, ensemble-driven theatre. Having a core group of Resident Company members allows the theatre to develop deep artistic relationships, leading to exceptional performances and a continuity of artistic vision. Brown is the second new addition to this esteemed group this year. Earlier this season, his The Piano Lesson castmate, Chinai Routté (Berniece), also joined Everyman’s Resident Company.
“RJ Brown is a phenomenal talent, and we are overjoyed to welcome him to the Everyman family,” said Everyman’s Founding Artistic Director, Vincent M. Lancisi. “His work in Primary Trust was a beautiful and heart-wrenching portrayal of a man finding his way in the world, and his masterful performance as Boy Willie in The Piano Lesson was nothing short of brilliant. His passion for the work, his dedication to the craft, and his undeniable stage presence make him a perfect fit for our Resident Company.”
“The opportunity to work with this group of talented artists and to contribute to Everyman’s mission of creating thought-provoking and high-quality theatre is a dream come true. The experiences I’ve had here with Primary Trust and The Piano Lesson have been deeply meaningful,“ states Brown. “The level of support offered by the staff, artistic team, and other creatives is unwavering. I look forward to creating even more art with this community. “
Everyman Theatre patrons first saw Brown on the Everyman stage when he delivered a deeply moving performance in Eboni Booth’s Pulitzer–Prize winning play, Primary Trust, where he took on the role of Kenneth portraying a gentle, reclusive man wrestling with childhood trauma and learning to navigate the current world. His nuanced performance earned widespread praise from critics and audiences. Brown’s next performance at Everyman was playing Boy Willie in The Piano Lesson. His unforgettable performance resonated deeply with audiences and showcased his wide range as a stage actor.
An alumnus of the University of Michigan, Brown boasts an impressive resume that includes television roles in shows like Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why and HBO’s Girls. Brown has appeared at other regional theaters such as Studio Theater in DC and numerous productions at The Muny in St. Louis.
“To start our 35th anniversary season with the highest selling season opener in Everyman’s history is the best birthday present – and it is in huge part thanks to the powerhouse performances of RJ along with fellow Resident Company Members Chinai Routté and Jefferson Russell with an overall phenomenal cast,” says Everyman’s Managing Director, Marissa LaRose. “We prioritize the care of artists at Everyman so that risks can be taken more freely and the result shines. Baltimore showed up for The Piano Lesson in so many ways, including selling out over 700 of our Pay-What-You-Choose tickets during the performance run. To welcome RJ to our Resident Company is icing on the cake!”
ABOUT THE ARTIST
RJ Brown (he/him) (TV/FILM) has worked extensively in television and film with select credits that include: 13 Reasons Why, The Carrie Diaries, The Frontrunner, The Equalizer, The Blacklist, Poker Face. Recently he can be found in the feature film Parasomnia premiering later this year. (NEW YORK) Manhattan Theater Club: King James; Ensemble Studio Theater: Mope. (REGIONAL) Studio Theater: Suzanne Lori Parks’ White Noise: in addition to Numerous productions at St. Louis’s The Muny. Everyman Theatre: August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, Primary Trust. (EDUCATION): BFA, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
ABOUT EVERYMAN THEATRE
Everyman Theatre is a professional Equity Theatre company in Baltimore’s Bromo Arts District. Founded in 1990 by Vincent M. Lancisi, Everyman centers its storytelling with a Resident Company of artists to carry out its mission of offering transformative, accessible theatre experiences. Led by Lancisi and Managing Director Marissa LaRose, Everyman Theatre invests in its community, believing that theatre is at its best when it’s “Built in Baltimore.” With the support of its partners, Everyman uses local vendors and local artisans to build every season, from the sets to the costumes, here in the city. Each season, the theatre employs over 150 full and part-time staff, actors, designers, and teaching artists to bring its programming to the people of Baltimore and the surrounding counties.
Everyman Theatre is supported in part by Lead Corporate Sponsor Gallagher, Evelius, and Jones, LLP, The Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org), The Citizens of Baltimore County, and The Shubert Foundation.