Running through Sept. 2 in Sag Harbor, NY, Big Maybelle: Soul of the Blues is written and directed by Paul Levine. Producers are anticipating a winter 2013 New York City run.
Tony Award-winning producer Martin Richards and the Gilead Company present the Bay Street world premiere.
White (The Life, Fela!, Dreamgirls) is joined by Eric Brown and Kiku Collins in the roles of Sully and Loretta, respectively.
Michael Mitchell serves as musical director with Kenny Seymour as orchestrator and musical supervisor. The creative team also includes John Arnone (scenery), Paul Miller (lighting), Emilio Sosa (costumes), Tony Melfa (sound), Michael Clark (projections) and Kathy Fabian (props).
According to Bay Street, "Set in a Cleveland, Ohio psychiatric hospital/rehab facility where she spent the last years of her life, Big Maybelle tells the audience the story of her breathtaking rise to world renown against odds almost impossible to believe. The exchange between Maybelle and the audience is spellbinding."
Big Maybelle includes 31 blues songs such as "Candy," "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," "Say It Isn't So," "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show," "A Good Man Is Hard To Find," "Mean To Me," "What A Difference A Day Makes," "I've Got A Feeling I'm Falling" and more.
The band includes Eric Brown (drums), Kiku Collins (trumpet), George Farmer (bass), Jason Marshall (saxaphone) and Kevin Ramessan (guitar).
Bay Street Theatre is in Sag Harbor, NY. Tickets can be purchased by calling (631) 725-9500 or by visiting BayStreet.
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Bay Street Theatre is a not-for-profit institution "presenting new, classic and contemporary works with a commitment to challenging and entertaining our diverse community."
