Off-Broadway NewsNew York Theatre Barn PresentsExcerpts From Freedom Riders Musical February 24The presentation features a conversation with writers Richard Allen and Taran Gray.
By
Dan Meyer
February 24, 2021
New York Theatre Barn hosts a free live stream of excerpts from the civil rights-themed musical Freedom Riders February 24, in honor of the individuals who challenged the American South status quo when buses were segregated. The digital event streams on NYTB’s YouTube at 7 PM ET.
The presentation also includes a conversation with the writers Richard Allen and Taran Gray and a special appearance by one of the last surviving Freedom Riders: Charles Person.
The performance will feature Jennifer Sun Bell, Kevin "Blax" Burroughs, Anthony Chatmon II, Tyla Collier, Meagan Flint, Deon’te Goodman, Payson Lewis, Eboni Muse, Michael William Nigro, Ebony Pollum, Leonard Patton, Scott Redmond, Nygel Robinson, Clayton Snyder, Erin Vanderhyde, Brynn Williams, and Davon Williams.
Freedom Riders has been developed with Barn Stage Company, New York Musical Festival and The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. A previous showcase at NYMF welcomed the late Congressman John Lewis, who serves as one of the main inspirations for the musical.
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Real-Life Freedom Rider and U.S. Congressman, John Lewis, Visits Freedom Riders: The Civil Rights Musical
Real-Life Freedom Rider and U.S. Congressman, John Lewis, Visits Freedom Riders: The Civil Rights Musical
The NYMF production put a musical spotlight on a powerful moment in American history.
7 PHOTOS
Richard Allen, Congressman John Lewis, and Taran Gray
Anthony Chatmon II and Congressman John Lewis
Congressman John Lewis and the cast
Anthony Chatmon II and Congressman John Lewis
Richard Allen, Congressman John Lewis, and Taran Gray
Richard Allen, Steven Cuevas, Congressman John Lewis, Whiteny White, and Taran Gray
The Great Performances broadcast features interviews with Tony winners Patti LuPone, Katrina Lenk, Marianne Elliott, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and the late Sondheim.
Produced by New York Public Library's Theatre on Film and Tape, the stream will be the first time the interview has been seen outside of the library walls.
Known for their inventive Off-Broadway revivals of Into the Woods and Merrily We Roll Along, the theatre celebrates the late composer and lyricist with this streamed event.
Plus, The Motherhood Concert will stream featuring Adriane Lenox, Pearl Sun, and more, and American Theatre Critics Association announces two award winners.
The producing team, including The Magicians actors, Scrap Paper Pictures’ Rachel Brosnahan, and NY Forever, are donating all proceeds from the virtual run to The Cultural Solidarity Fund.
Celebrating the New York Public Library's Billy Rose Theatre Division, viewers can expect archival clips of In the Heights, The Mountaintop, Sunset Boulevard, and more.