“She never had to hit him to break him.”

That powerful message sits at the heart of Man Of The House, the long-running stage production created by writer, producer, director and actor A’ndre Davis. For more than a decade, the dramedy has used laughter, music and storytelling to open a conversation that too often happens in silence: men can be victims of domestic violence, too.

Now, Man Of The House is continuing that mission with upcoming performances in Chicago on October 10, 2026, followed by New Brunswick, New Jersey, on October 31, 2026.

Tickets are on sale now, but fans shouldn’t wait too long. Upcoming performances are selling quickly as the production continues to bring its combination of entertainment and social awareness to audiences around the country.

Domestic Violence With a Different Perspective

Man Of The House follows James, played by Davis, as he struggles to save his relationship and get his life back on track while the woman he loves controls his home—and seemingly every other part of his world.

It’s domestic violence told from a perspective that isn’t explored nearly enough: the man is the victim, not the abuser.

And physical violence is only part of the conversation.

The production specifically examines the emotional, mental and psychological forms of abuse that can exist inside relationships. Its message challenges the assumption that domestic violence must leave a physical bruise for the damage to be real.

As the production’s awareness campaign puts it: “Emotional abuse leaves no bruises. But it leaves scars.”

That message has been central to Man Of The House since its debut. According to the production, its goal is not only to entertain audiences but also to challenge assumptions and broaden the public’s understanding of domestic violence. MOTH 2026 College Pres. (1)

Finding the Balance Between Laughter and a Serious Message

Despite the weight of its subject matter, Man Of The House isn’t presented as a lecture.

It’s a dramedy.

Davis intentionally uses humor to keep audiences engaged and emotionally connected to the characters. Importantly, the abuse itself is never the joke. Instead, comedy creates room for audiences to laugh, relate and lower their guard before confronting some uncomfortable realities.

The story digs into domestic violence alongside unresolved emotional issues, relationship dynamics and generational cycles that can continue when trauma goes unaddressed.

It’s an approach that has allowed the production to become more than a night at the theater.

Man Of The House premiered at Luna Stage in West Orange, New Jersey, in August 2014. Since then, the show has traveled throughout the Tri-State area and beyond, including stops at colleges and universities where it has been incorporated into domestic violence educational programming. The production’s history includes appearances at institutions such as Rutgers University-Newark, Coppin State University, William Paterson University, the University of the Arts and NJIT, among others.

Star Power Has Helped Bring the Story to Life

Another element of the show’s longevity has been its rotating lineup of established entertainers and emerging talent.

Over the years, Man Of The House has welcomed celebrity guest features including J-Boog of B2K, Willie Taylor of Day26, R&B singer and actor Christopher Williams, Trinity Whiteside of Tyler Perry’s Sistas, Cortez Smith of The Chi and Oshea Russell of All The Queen’s Men. MOTH 2026 College Pres. (1)

The current production continues that tradition with R&B powerhouse Monifah, whose career includes the hits “I Miss You (Come Back Home),” “You Don’t Have to Love Me” and “Touch It.”

Also joining the production is Christian “C. King” King, an actor, comedian and recording artist whose credits include MTV’s Wild ‘N Out, along with Oshea Russell, known for Tyler Perry’s All The Queen’s Men.

At the center of it all is Davis himself.

In addition to writing, directing and producing the production, Davis stars as James. His career has included sharing stages with artists including Anthony Hamilton, Musiq Soulchild, Boyz II Men, Tamia, India.Arie, The Temptations, Tank, Joe, Brian McKnight and Patti LaBelle. His acting credits include Dreamgirls, After The Walk and Underneath It All.

Twelve Years Later, the Conversation Still Matters

Perhaps the most powerful thing about Man Of The House is that the conversation it began in 2014 remains necessary today.

Men experiencing abuse can face shame, disbelief and deeply rooted ideas about masculinity that make speaking up difficult. Man Of The House asks audiences to reconsider what a victim looks like—and to recognize that abuse doesn’t become less damaging because the person experiencing it is male.

It’s why the show’s message reaches beyond theater.

Audiences can come for the comedy, recognizable faces and performances, but they may leave having an entirely different conversation about relationships, emotional abuse and the people who suffer quietly behind closed doors.

Chicago — October 10, 2026
New Brunswick, NJ — October 31, 2026

Tickets are on sale now, and upcoming shows are selling out quickly.

After 12 years, Man Of The House is still entertaining audiences. More importantly, it’s still challenging them to listen to voices that too often go unheard.

Because domestic violence has no gender—and sometimes the scars no one can see are the ones that need to be talked about the most.