By: James Manley
In the intimate confines of a hotel room in Amsterdam, two strangers meet and reveal more about themselves and the world than they ever intended. This is the premise of Ken Urban’s A Guide for the Homesick, a play that has taken a poignant and complex journey to its New York debut. With themes of guilt, compassion, and redemption, Urban crafts a story that doesn’t just ask questions but compels audiences to wrestle with their answers long after the curtain falls.
The play was born from Urban’s interviews with volunteers from Doctors Without Borders, conducted as part of a small commission from New York’s Epic Theatre Ensemble in 2010. “What struck me most was how difficult it was for these individuals to return home after their work in the field,” Urban explains. “They struggled to maintain friendships and connections after experiencing such profound trauma.” These conversations served as the emotional foundation for A Guide for the Homesick.
As the play took shape, Urban delved into another urgent topic: the rise of anti-gay violence in Uganda and the disturbing role of American pastors in fueling that hatred. “Those two threads became intertwined in my mind,” he says, and from this intersection of global and personal crises emerged a deeply human story.
The play’s journey began with its world premiere at Boston’s Huntington Theatre Company, where Urban collaborated closely with director Colman Domingo. “That production was a whirlwind,” Urban recalls. “I didn’t figure out the ending until we were already in tech rehearsals. It was terrifying but exhilarating.” After its Boston debut, the play traveled to the West End, where Urban made minor refinements, always striving to enhance the narrative without losing its core essence: two men in a hotel room who unknowingly need each other to make sense of their own pasts.
Photo Courtesy: Ken Urban (A Guide for the Homesick playwright Ken Urban)
Now, as A Guide for the Homesick arrives in New York, Urban reflects on the unique resonance it holds for the city’s audiences. Set in January 2011, the play captures a moment of cautious optimism under the Obama administration—a mood that has since been replaced by more challenging times. “In a way, the play dramatizes a tipping point,” Urban observes. “It reminds us of our responsibility to be humane, especially when the world feels darker than ever.”
Directed by Shira Milikowsky, the production is as much a study in collaboration as it is in storytelling. Urban had long admired Milikowsky’s work, including her ambitious staging of Taylor Mac’s A Lily’s Revenge at the American Repertory Theater. “We’ve known each other for years, but it wasn’t until the pandemic that I finally sent her this play,” Urban says. “Her vision for the piece has been extraordinary. She brings a physicality and emotional depth that elevates the story.”
Photo Courtesy: Russ Rowland (Uly Schlesinger and McKinley Belcher III. Photo Russ Rowland)
The choice to have two actors portray multiple roles adds another layer of complexity. For Urban, this narrative device is essential to the play’s themes. “Hotels are haunted by the traces of people who’ve been there,” he explains. “That doubling reflects how we carry the people we’ve failed with us—and sometimes see them in those who are right in front of us.”
At the heart of A Guide for the Homesick are two powerhouse performances from McKinley Belcher III (Ozark, Mercy Street) and Uly Schlesinger (The Sinner, Genera+ion). Belcher brings a profound vulnerability to his role, capturing the internal struggles and guarded humanity of his character with stunning precision. Schlesinger, in turn, delivers a nuanced and emotionally charged portrayal that perfectly complements Belcher’s intensity. Together, they embody the complexity and rawness of Urban’s script, seamlessly transitioning between multiple roles and delivering a chemistry that feels deeply authentic. Their performances are not only a testament to their craft but also elevate the play’s emotional resonance, making the story’s themes of guilt, redemption, and human connection all the more impactful.
Urban’s creative process is as emotionally intense as the plays he writes. Immersing himself in interviews, crafting curated playlists, and revisiting key moments, he aims to fully inhabit the characters’ worlds. “I’m a bit of a Method playwright,” he admits with a laugh. “If someone saw me while I was writing, they’d probably think I needed help.”
Beyond its technical brilliance, A Guide for the Homesick is driven by Urban’s unwavering belief in the power of storytelling. “My goal is to give audiences an experience they can’t get anywhere else,” he says. “If they’re still talking about it in the subway or over drinks afterward, I know I’ve done my job.”
As Urban looks ahead, he’s far from resting on his laurels. He’s preparing for a site-specific production of his new play Danger and Opportunity in the East Village and gearing up for the release of a new album with his band Occurrence. “The pandemic made me feel like my career was over,” he reflects. “But that fear drove me to double down and keep creating.”
For now, though, Urban’s focus is on the New York stage, where A Guide for the Homesick promises to captivate audiences with its raw honesty and haunting beauty. “This play asks hard questions,” Urban says. “But in a world filled with fear, asking those questions is more important than ever.”
Don’t miss Ken Urban’s A Guide for the Homesick, now playing at Union Square’s DR2 Theatre. Tickets are available online and at the box office.
Video about the A Guide for the Homesick.
Published by Elle G
