The production will feature:

• three-time Emmy Award-winner Uzo Aduba (In Treatment, Orange is the New Black), who made her Broadway debut in Coram Boy (’07) and was last seen on Broadway 10 years ago in the revival of Hair
• two-time Emmy Award-winner Ron Cephas Jones (This is Us, Truth Be Told, Between Riverside and Crazy), father of Jasmine Cephas Jones (Hamilton), was last seen on Broadway in Of Mice and Men (’14)
• Reza Salazar (Sweat)
• Lucille Lortel Award winner and Antonyo nominee Kara Young (All The Natalie Portmans, Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven) making her Broadway debut
• A fifth role remains to be cast

Directed by Kate Whoriskey, CLYDE’S will begin previews on Wednesday, November 3, 2021, and officially open on Monday, November 22, 2021, at Second Stage’s Broadway home, The Hayes Theater (240 West 44th street).

CLYDE’S, a stirring and funny new play, a truck stop sandwich shop offers its formerly incarcerated kitchen staff a shot at redemption. Even as the shop’s callous owner, Clyde (played by Aduba), tries to keep them under her thumb, the staff members are given purpose and permission to dream by their shared quest to create the perfect sandwich. You’ll want a seat at the table for this humorous, moving, and urgent play. It’s an example of Nottage’s “genius for bringing politically charged themes to life by embodying them in ordinary characters living ordinary lives” (The Wall Street Journal).

The full creative team for CLYDE’S includes scenic design by Takeshi Kata, costume design by Jennifer Moeller, lighting design by Christopher Akerlind, sound design by Justin Ellington, original compositions by Justin Hicks, and casting by The Telsey Office.

The post Uzo Aduba, Ron Cephas Jones + More Cast in Lynn Nottage’s <em>CLYDE’S</em> On Broadway appeared first on Broadway Black.

The cast includes co-creator Griffin Matthews, along with Melody Betts, Rodrick Covington, Kevin Curtis, Tyrone Davis, Jr., Nkrumah Gatling, Latrisa Harper, Jason Herbert, Aisha Jackson, Kristolyn Lloyd, Michael Lluwoye, Corey Mach, Tiffany Mann, Jeremy Pope, Jamard Richardson, Nicolette Robinson, Adeola Role, Conor Ryan, and Jamar Williams.

“Determined to find his place in the world, 20-something Griffin leaves his job and his New York City apartment to volunteer for a charity in Africa. But when his altruistic aspirations collide with the real world, his life is changed in unexpected and profound ways. Inspired by a true story, this new musical infuses a world pop score with African beats in a journey about discovering whether changing the world is even possible.”

As Broadway Black already reported last month, the show was able to crowd-fund enough money to send the the cast, creators and a film crew to Uganda. In preparation for the New York premiere they met with the real-life Ugandan students the story is based on, participated in service projects, mentored orphans, and worked alongside local artists to take part in an exchange that will help to shape their performances and lives! Their main goal was to  connect with the people and places that have inspired the show and to come home and share an authentic theater experience with audiences in New York City!

Invisible Thread will be produced produced in association with the American Repertory Theater, where the musical held its world premiere in February 2014 under the title of Witness Uganda. Invisible Thread will begin previews at the Tony Kiser Theatre on October 31, with an official opening on  December 2, and a limited run through to December 27.

FIRST NYC REHEARSAL!! A million thank yous to every actor, director, production team, friend, family and supporter who has been a part of this journey. You are with us today. And we celebrate YOU!! There is a long invisible…

A photo posted by Witness Uganda (@witnessuganda) on Sep 14, 2015 at 9:08am PDT

The post Invisible Thread Cast Announced After Return From Uganda appeared first on Broadway Black.

Karen Pittman, who most recently appeared on Broadway in Disgraced, will star as the lead role, Liz Rico, in the world premiere of Fernanda Coppel’s King Liz.

King Liz follows Liz Rico, a sports agent who, despite money and an elite client roster, must work twice as hard to stay on top in an industry dominated by men.When Freddie Luna (Jeremie Harris), a high school basketball star with a troubled past enters, she seizes the opportunity to skyrocket his career as well as her own.

King Liz also stars Michael Cullen as Mr. Candy, Russell G. Jones as Coach Jones, Caroline Lagerfelt as Barbara Flowers and Irene Sofia Lucio as Gabby Fuentes.

Karen Pittman was in both the Lincoln Center production of Disgraced and the original Broadway run. Other Broadway credits include Good People and Passing Strange.  She also appeared in Bruce Norris’s Domesticated directed by Anna D Shapiro at LCT.  She has a number of TV credits including “House of Cards”, “The Americans”, “The Good Wife”, and “White Collar.” Her film credits include The Bourne Legacy, Last Night, Begin Again and The Rewrite.

The Lisa Peterson directed production will play Uptown at the McGinn/Cazale Theatre (2162 Broadway & 76th St) produced by The Second Stage Theatre beginning July 13 and run through August 8. Opening night is set for July 27.

The production will feature scenic design by Dane Laffrey, costumes by Jessica Pabst, lighting design by Tyler Micoleau and sound design by Darron L West.

Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased here.

The post Karen Pittman To Star In King Liz Off Broadway appeared first on Broadway Black.

Invisible Thread 

Second Stage Artistic Director Carole Rothman said:

“The writers…embrace a unique and refreshing perspective on the American experience. I am so impressed by Matt and Griffin’s exceptional new musical and am very much looking forward to introducing these important writers and their uplifting new work to New York.”

Tony Winner Diane Paulus has been attached to the project’s development for several years and oversaw staged readings in New York late last year.  Ms. Paulus won a Tony in 2013 for her direction of Pippin and was nominated for Tonys for directing The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess in 2012 and Hair in 2009.

Earlier this year, Andrew Keenan-Bolger released a new music video by Witness Uganda composers Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews as part of an effort to raise funding for the educational organization, UgandaProject. According to the the organization’s website, “We shot a music video of our song, Invisible Thread, and use it as a way to celebrate people all over the world who are fighting for their right to love whom they choose.”

The musical will open this fall.

Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews, the award winning team behind the Broadway bound musical WITNESS UGANDA, blur the boundaries of real life and theater with the release of the single, “Invisible Thread.” The song was written for their show, which tells the true story of their experiences as aid workers in Africa. But here, the song takes on a more personal twist as the couple struggles to balance their careers and their life together. At the core, Griffin and Gould’s work grapples with questions central to a generation straddling their responsibilities as citizens of the world and citizens of our own communities.

Griffin and Gould dedicate this song to people across the world who are fighting for their right to love who they choose. Despite our distances and political and cultural differences, we are all bound together by our struggle to love and be loved.

Download song on itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/inv…

All proceeds from the sale of “Invisible Thread” on itunes will benefit the education of Ugandan students in the hopes that an educated population is the best remedy for intolerance and hatred.

To help bring education and tolerance training to more students across Uganda, go to https://www.crowdrise.com/invisibleth…

Song by: Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews
Performed by: Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews

Directed by: Andrew Keenan-Bolger
Assistant Director: Kyle Beckley
Edited by: Andrew Keenan-Bolger

The post Witness Uganda Turns Into Invisible Thread At 2econd Stage Theatre appeared first on Broadway Black.