The Topdog Diaries

Plot Summary

An intimate portrait of playwright Suzan-Lori Parks featuring actors Don Cheadle and Jeffrey Wright; a close-up of the theater experience that's rarely seen on film. The film explores why a writer writes and how a play gets made in behind-the-scenes footage of Topdog/Underdog in rehearsal and performance. THE TOPDOG DIARIES captures the triumphant Broadway debut of a writer who continues to take the kind of daring chances that have always defined her work, and presents a chronicle of Parks' opportunities, challenges, and personal milestones during the production of her 2002 Pulitzer prize-winning play.