Chicken & Biscuits

Professor Baron Kelly is a distinguished actor, educator, and scholar with a career spanning over four decades across the United States, Europe, and Asia. A graduate of the Juilliard School and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned his PhD in Theatre Research, Professor Kelly is internationally renowned for his expertise in classical theatre, particularly Shakespearean performance.

His illustrious acting career has seen him perform with some of the world’s most prestigious theatre companies, including the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre of Great Britain, and the Stratford Festival of Canada. Equally at home on stage and screen, his credits extend to acclaimed television and film productions.

Professor Kelly is also a highly respected academic, currently serving as a Professor of Theatre and Drama at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research and teaching interests focus on acting methodologies, cross-cultural performance practices, and the development of classical theatre training in diverse global contexts.

A passionate advocate for arts education, Professor Kelly has dedicated much of his career to fostering emerging talent and expanding access to high-quality theatrical training. He has worked extensively with underrepresented communities to promote inclusivity in the arts and has collaborated with institutions worldwide to build cross-cultural artistic exchange programs. Professor Kelly recently delivered a lecture to LAMDA students during Black History Month where he outlined the contribution of black actors to the stage from the 10th century until the present day.

In 2024, Professor Kelly was announced as LAMDA's inaugural recipient of the Colin Cook International Fellowship. He was also recognised as their inaugural Visiting Professor of Acting and Directing. In January 2025, he was appointed as the Chair of LAMDA's US sister organisation, the American Friends of LAMDA (AFLAMDA). 

Douglas Lyons is a 2X Emmy nominated multi-hyphenate artist. As a writer, he earned a GLAAD nomination for his Broadway playwriting debut, Chicken and Biscuits, which was the 2nd most produced play in America in 2022-23. His most recent play, Table 17, which premiered Off-Broadway at MCC Theater, was deemed a New York Times Critics’ Pick and won two 2024 Audelco Awards for Best Playwright and Outstanding Ensemble.

Douglas served as a writer on both seasons of Apple TV's Fraggle Rock. His Broadway acting credits include The Book of Mormon, plus the original cast of Beautiful and the Tony Award winning Broadway revival of Parade. Tour credits include Rent, Dreamgirls and The Book of Mormon.

As a composer-lyricist, his music and lyrics have been featured on Nickelodeon, BET Plus, Apple TV, CBS's Sunday Morning Show, Audible and more. His other written stage works include Don't Touch My Hair (IAMA Theatre Company), Polkadots (Off Broadway Alliance Winner Best Family Show, Atlantic Theater Company), Beau (Adirondack Theatre Festival), the world premiere of Five Points (Theater Latté Da) and more.

He is currently developing television with Sky Dance and Ryan Reynolds' Maximum Effort.

Contains minor themes of homophobia due to religious beliefs. Minor depiction of recreational marijuana use and explicit language.

This amateur production of CHICKEN & BISCUITS is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. on behalf of Dramatists Play Service. www.concordtheatricals.co.uk  

Originally Produced on Broadway by Pamela Ross Hunter Arnold E. Clayton Cornelious Leah Michalos Kayla Greenspan Priyanka Chopra Jonas Nick Jonas Mapleseed Productions Curt Cronin John Joseph John Paterakis Invisible Wall Productions/Blaine Hopkins 

CHICKEN & BISCUITS received its launch production at Queens Theatre (Taryn Sacramone, Executive Director), Queens, NY, on February 28, 2020. 

LAMDA is a two-minute walk from Barons Court Station or a ten-minute walk from either West Kensington or Hammersmith Station. 

Please note: Our nearest station, Barons Court, is undergoing refurbishment works throughout 2026. Find out more.