Aida tells the story of two lovers who come from opposite backgrounds in Eygpt but despite all obstacles, they devote their love to each other until their last breath. Based on the opera of the same name, the show opened on Broadway in March 2000 and starred the incredible singer and actress Heather Headley.

Prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, press releases announced that the show would return to the Broadway stage for a revival in 2021 with Schele Willams, an original cast member, as director of the production. While we patiently wait for the project to grow to fruition, we wonder what the cast would look like if told in a new, innovative, and ALL BLACK EVERY-THANG way?

Cynthia Erivo as Aida

Cynthia Erivo

Filling the iconic shoes of Heather Headley is NOT an easy task, so who’d better than another powerhouse voice such as Cynthia Erivo? The on-her-way-to-be EGOT actress has portrayed a wide variety of strong Black women on screen and on stage, so hearing her tackle classics such as “Easy As Life” and “Dance of the Robe” would give us more reasons to love her work!

Noah J. Ricketts as Radames

Photo courtesy of Courtesy Jacob Smith Studios

Noah J. Ricketts made his Broadway debut as a swing/replacement in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical but rose to fame in 2019 when he gained the starring role of Kristoff in Disney’s Frozen on Broadway. Ricketts. So let’s talk about UNDERRATED PERFORMERS! Noah’s rich, buttery tone has the level of fierceness to showcase Radames’s power as Captain of the Egyptian army while always showing the tender and complex side he develops when he falls in love with Aida.

Alysha Deslorieux as Amneris

Alysha Deslorieux

Another Broadway queen whose name we do not hear often…. but should. Queen Deslorieux has played a wide range of characters such as Andrea in Once on this Island, Deloris in Sister Act, and Eliza in Hamilton. Seeing her portray a role as deep and powerful as Amneris would take this show to the next level and her elegant and unique voice could take “I Know the Truth” to the Top 10 in no time.

Brian Stokes Mitchell as Zoser

Photo courtesy of Brian Stokes Mitchell’s official website.

Ragtime. Jelly’s Last Jam. Man of La Mancha. Kiss Me Kate. You name it- Stokes has done it. Brian Stokes Mitchell has graced Broadway’s catalog for over three decades and we would love to see him join the revival cast of a classic such as AIDA. His impressive baritone range would definitely bring a new, jazzy twist on “Another Pyramid”. As for portraying the father role to Ricketts, this would be one hell of a way to bring together the new generation of Broadway to the OGs that paved the way!

DeMarius R. Copes as Mereb

You last saw him play the vibrant Damian Hubbard in Means Girls on Broadway- and we would LOVE it see him take on Mereb in Aida. Mereb requires a young but capturing male who is first to recognize Aida as the Princess of Nubia. DeMarius’s fresh face and elegant voice in “How I Know You” could definitely pull all of this off.

DeMarius R. Copes

Nkeki Obi-Melekwe as Nehebka

Rising to fame as Tina in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical on West End, then as the alternate to Adrienne Warren on Broadway, Nkeki Obi-Melekwe brings a spark to the stage many do not see often. Her remarkable voice and dance skills add more fuel to the fire of a stellar cast for a long-overdue revival.

Photo: Emilio Madrid-Kuser

Nick Rashad Burroughs as Pharaoh

Give it up for strong Black men on Broadway! Nick has given us everything we’ve needed in Kinky Boots, King Kong, and Tina on Broadway, and bringing his rich voice and impeccable moves to Nubia as Pharoah would allow him to showcase the acting chops as well. *SPOILER* having to act like you being poisoned throughout the course of the show is not the easiest task for anyone.

Nick Rashad Burroughs

Rodrick Covington as Amonasro

Rodrick made his Broadway debut in The Lion King and rose to fame once more in the Tony-Award winning revival of Once on This Island in 2017. With the physical appearance and incredible dance ability, he’d make a great fit to portray the King of Nubia and fierce Nubian dancer in the production.

Rodrick Covington Headshot

If we have to search a hundred lifetimes, we will find the perfect cast for this highly anticipated revival of AIDA. Let us know who’d you like to see in the show!!

The post Dreamcasting: Aida appeared first on Broadway Black.

Six is the global smash-hit pop musical that took Broadway by storm this year. The show has been seen by over half a million people around the world, and the cast recording has been streamed over 100 million times. Six tells the story of the six wives of King Henry VIII – Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr – having each of them in the spotlight and flipping the one-sided patriarchal narrative we learned in our history textbooks. Let’s break down some black Broadway queens who would be stellar as these Tudor queens.

Catherine of Aragon – MJ Rodriguez

If you know both Six and MJ well, you should know that this one needs no explanation. First off, Catherine of Aragon’s character in the show is inspired by Beyoncé, something MJ would definitely be able to convey well. Secondly, MJ’s voice demands your attention (if you’ve never seen the iconic video of her singing “Satisfied”, it is required viewing) and that’s a quality needed for all women who play Aragon, as she needs to start off the show strong. Also, there’s several parallels between Aragon and Bianca, MJ’s character on Pose, so she has this in the bag.

Honorable mentions: Jai’Len Josey, Saycon Sengbloh, Christiani Pitts

Anne Boleyn – Brynn Williams

I’ve been a fan of Brynn’s since she played Cassie in Jason Robert Brown’s 13, so I know how this woman can sing her head off (pun 100% intended). Brynn would be able to deliver Anne Boleyn’s one-liners with ease, and just thinking about her high notes at the end of “Don’t Lose Ur Head” gives me goosebumps. This casting choice would be nothing short of iconic.

Honorable mentions: Storm Lever, Hailey Kilgore, Samantha Williams 

Jane Seymour – Amber Riley

If you’ve never heard Amber Riley sing, I would like to express my deepest condolences. The Glee and Dreamgirls alum would be absolutely stunning as Jane Seymour, and would definitely add her own Effie White flare to Seymour’s slower ballad “Heart of Stone” which was inspired by both Adele and Sia. Just take a second to imagine the riffs she would give us and the vocal power she’d exude. She’d probably do it effortlessly too. 

Honorable mentions: Charity Angel Dawson, Joaquina Kalukango, Ayana George

Anna of Cleves – Loren Lott

Anna of Cleves’ comedic lines and hilarious song, entitled “Get Down”, make this role a perfect fit for Loren. Not to mention her naturally bubbly personality and spirited energy – all of these factors make her a fantastic choice, and she would definitely bring aspects of her own self into the role. 

Honorable mentions: Bre Jackson, Rachel John, Ariana DeBose

Katherine Howard – Ashley De La Rosa

Because Ashley made her Broadway debut as the standby for Regina George in Mean Girls, it would be fitting for her to play yet another character who dons pink and can belt for her life. Katherine Howard relays her history of gross mistreatment at the hands of men in her Britney Spears-esque song that goes through it all, so Ashley’s stellar vocal and acting chops would shine in this role for sure. 

Honorable mentions: Kristolyn Lloyd, Adrienne Warren, Joanna A. Jones

Catherine Parr – Alysha Deslorieux

Catherine Parr’s character is inspired by both Alicia Keys and Emeli Sandé, and Alysha’s silky voice has qualities of both. On top of that, Catherine Parr was originated on Broadway by Anna Uzele, who replaced Alysha as Andrea in the Broadway revival of Once on this Island in July 2018. Alysha has a knack for playing reserved but complex characters like Parr, as she played Eliza in Hamilton’s Chicago production. Her rendition of “I Don’t Need Your Love” would definitely make for an unforgettable theatrical experience.

Honorable mentions: Jasmine Cephas-Jones, Jordin Sparks, Taylor Iman Jones

Let us know YOUR Six dreamcasts!

The post Dreamcasting: Six Edition appeared first on Broadway Black.

Larry Owens and L Morgan Lee as Madame Thenardier

Without the Thenardiers, Les Miz is a close to 3-hour opera about death that does not give the audience a break. The Thenardiers are the perfect comedic relief and I could not think of two other performers with the timing and presence required to deliver these characters. Owens and Lee proved to be magic together in Michael R. Jackson’s Pullitzer Prize winning, A Strange Loop. The two have incredible chemistry that would only lend itself to the characters.

Christian Dante White as Marius

From My Fair Lady to the streets of the revolution, there isn’t a dreamier voice that could bring Marius to life. Christian Dante White is unquestionably the leading man Broadway deserves. On top his soaring voice this man ACTS for his life in shows like The Scottsboro Boys and Hello Dolly!, he has more than shown his ability to tell any story you put in front of him.  

Okieriete Onaodowan as Enjorlas

From revolution to the next! Enjorlas is the heartbeat of this show’s revolution and Oak has proven to be exactly that as the original Hercules Mulligan in Hamilton. Played by fellow Hamilton alums, Kyle Scatliffe and Wallace Smith in Les Misérables’ last revival, it seems fitting for Onadowan to take on the barricade. Oak’s charm and swagger seem like the perfect fit for the leader of the resistance.

Norm Lewis as Javert

Norm Lewis is THE definitive Javert. There’s no other voice we’d want to hear sing ‘Stars’ eight shows a week. In the first moments of the show, Norm steps onstage and demands the attention of an entire audience and that is the mark of a true artist. He made history as the first Black Javert on Broadway and I’d love to bring him back for another round.

Christiani Pitts as Eponine

Eponine is one of the most complex character in the show, navigating a tumultuous childhood and into this rebellious adulthood, she has learned to protect herself and those she loves. Christiani Pitts had this incredible quality in both King Kong and A Bronx Tale that lends itself to Eponine. Pitts has this air of determination and eagerness to follow her heart fiercely that Eponine absolutely needs.

Amber Iman as Fantine

There are some artists that can convey exactly what a character is feeling in a SECOND, and Amber Iman is one of the golden examples of that. Amber’s voice is like a bed of honey scented roses coated in the blood of Jesus! There is no way her “I dreamed a dream” wouldn’t have you sitting in a puddle of tears!

Denee Benton as Cosette

Benton made her Broadway debut as Natasha in Dave Malloy’s ‘Great Comet’ and has been serving every bit of ingenue the kids deserve! Cosette has the same breath of youth as Natasha but leans toward Eliza in Hamilton when it comes to her chase of love that Denee beautifully portrays. The thought of Denee, Christian, and Christiani singing “A Heart Full of Love” brings nothing but Joy to my heart.

Quentin Earl Darrington as Jean Valjean

Bring Him…to Broadway! There’s no other performer quite like Quentin Earl Darrington. After his whirlwind performance as Coalhouse in the 2009 Ragtime revival, Broadway was made aware of the powerhouse he is. Quentin has this ability to quiet an audience with a sharp inhale and keep them on the edge of their seats through curtain call. Quentin’s heart shines through every piece he does and is the perfect match for Valjean’s act 2 ballad, “Bring Him Home” Need Pro

Let us know how you feel about our casting picks!

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