Set in 1904, the ninth play in August Wilson's cycle begins on Aunt Esther's 287th birthday, when Citizen Barlow arrives at her house. Barlow is spiritually troubled, so Aunt Esther sends him on a quest to discover the mythic city of bones; a quest which provides surprises and sets him on a course of duty and redemption.

The Tricycle has previously staged three other plays from Wilson's epic cycle; The Piano Lesson, Two Trains Runnin' an, most recently, King Hedley II. Gem Of The Ocean director, Paulette Randall, also directed all three previous plays.