More celebs are getting into producing on Broadway. Fresh on the heels of pop music icon Mariah Carey joining the producing team for Some Like It Hot, Ain't No Mo' on Broadway is adding a who's who of celebrities to its list of producers. Slave Play playwright Jeremy O. Harris, New York Jets tight end (that's football, theatre fans!) CJ Uzomah, former Miami Heat player Dwyane Wade (that one's basketball), actor Gabrielle Union-Wade (Bring It On), and drag superstar RuPaul Charles have committed to giving Jordan E. Cooper's Ain't No Mo' its Broadway premiere. The work is set to celebrate opening night at the Belasco Theatre December 1.
The group is part of a new trend on Broadway: Putting star power on producing teams. Charles is enjoying a second outing as a Broadway producer after being on the team for last season's Best Musical Tony Award winner A Strange Loop. That show also had a star roster of producers, including Don Cheadle, Jennifer Hudson, Mindy Kaling, Billy Porter, Alan Cumming, and Ilana Glazer.
Ain't No Mo' is a comedy that explores the answer to one question: What would happen if the U.S. government offered Black Americans one-way plane tickets to Africa? Cooper reprises his performance as the flight attendant Peaches from the 2019 world premiere at Off-Broadway's The Public to make his Broadway debut as a playwright and as a performer. The company also includes fellow Off-Broadway cast members Crystal Lucas-Perry (1776) as Passenger #5, Fedna Jacquet as Passenger #1, Marchánt Davis as Passenger #2, and Ebony Marshall-Oliver as Passenger #4 alongside Shannon Matesky as Passenger #3.
At the helm is director Stevie Walker-Webb, also making his Broadway debut. The production's creative team includes lighting designer Adam Honoré, scenic designer Scott Pask, costume designer Emilio Sosa, co-sound designers Jonathan Deans and Taylor Williams, and wig designer Mia M. Neal.
The producing team is led by Lee Daniels, and is joined by BET: Black Entertainment Television, Len Blavatnik, Ron Burkle, Aryeh B. Bourkoff, 59th & Prairie Entertainment, RuPaul Charles, I'll Have Another Productions, Jeremy O. Harris, Tucker Tooley Entertainment, CJ Uzomah, Ann Cox, Gina Pulia, Bob Yari, Marvin Peart, Colleen Camp, Marvet Britto, Jeremy Green, Sue Wagner, John Johnson, Jillian Robbins, and The Public Theater. Wagner Johnson Productions serve as executive producers and general managers.
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