A woman with red curly hair and a man with dark hair sitting close together, holding hands, in a medical or therapy setting.

Cody originated the lead role of Adam 2

In the beginning, two people got kicked out of a garden for eating fruit. Many years later, Adam—a transgender man expecting a child—meets with his twin sister, Eve, a pioneering scientist. She offers her brother prenatal services from her cutting-edge practice. But what exactly does that entail? And does Adam even want Eve’s help? 

Second Stage Theater, Off-Broadway, World Premiere

On the Evolutionary Function of Shame

Media

Production Photos by Joan Marcus

Two men sitting on a yellow couch engaged in conversation. One is casually dressed in a red plaid shirt and shorts with socks, holding a beer can. The other is dressed in a formal light grey suit, sitting with legs crossed. There is a small side table with books and a container of pens, and a floor lamp providing warm lighting in a cozy setting.
Two people dressed as plants are facing each other on a stage with a green mossy background, appearing to argue or have a disagreement.
Two men are embracing, their foreheads touching, in an emotional moment.
A man in a hospital bed being examined by a female doctor with ultrasound equipment, while a person standing beside him holds his arm and speaks to him in a hospital examination room.
Two men seated on a yellow couch, engaged in conversation in a casual setting. The man on the left has curly hair, wears a sleeveless shirt with a blue vest, and has a slight smile. The man on the right is bald, wearing a green jacket over a striped shirt, and is gesturing with his hand while speaking. There are colorful pillows and supplies on the couch.
A hospital or clinic room with a woman sitting on an examination table and a man standing beside a desk with a computer. The room is bright and clean with white walls and cabinets, and there is a medical light on the wall.

Show Information

2ST Next Stage Festival, The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center

Directed by Jess McLeod

Written by D.A. Mindell

Featuring Jordan Barbour, Kayli Carter, Elizabeth Ramos, Imani Russell, Cody Sloan, Ryan Jamal Swain

Casting by Charlie Hano & Karyn Casl, The Tesley Office

Scenic Design by You-Shin Chen

Lighting Design by Keith Parham, Barbara Samuels

Costume Design by Hahnji Jang

Sound Design by Bailey Trierweiler

Pink background with blue clay figures, including several small human figures, a large sphere, and abstract shapes, alongside bold orange and black text promoting a theatrical production.

Praise for On The Evolutionary Function of Shame

“Adam 2 is delightfully stubborn and occasionally selfish, played with an inimitable sweetness by Cody Sloan…unwavering in his convictions, and his voice becomes a thing of hope and determination.”

- Austin Fimmano, New York Theatre Guide (2025)

“…a first-rate cast navigates both the philosophical arguments and the punchlines with clarity and a feather-light touch.”

-Thom Geier, Culture Sauce (2025)

“An important work wrestling with the politics of identity and difference at a time when these discussions are increasingly urgent.”

-Kimberly Ramírez, Talkin’ Broadway (2025)