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Cast of Goddess for 35th Powerhouse Theater Season Cast of Goddess for 35th Powerhouse Theater Season

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35th Powerhouse Season: Casting Announced for Musical Workshop Goddess & More!

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Vassar & New York Stage and Film have announced additional casting for the 35th Powerhouse Season in Poughkeepsie, NY, which continues through SundayJuly 28. Vassar & New York Stage and Film’s Powerhouse collaboration continues to be the launching pad for some of the most groundbreaking new works for the American theater. Dozens of celebrated projects trace their roots to Powerhouse and New York Stage and Film, including Hadestown, currently on Broadway; the Lynn Nottage musical The Secret Life of Bees off-Broadway at Atlantic Theater Company, & Colman Domingo’s Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole at the Geffen Playhouse.

Musical Workshop – Goddess

Goddess, the third musical workshop presentation of the 2019 Powerhouse season (July 26-28), conceived by Saheem Ali, music and lyrics by Michael Thurber, book by Jocelyn Bioh, additional lyrics by Mkhululi Z. Mabija, and directed by Saheem Ali; will feature Phoenix Best (Dear Evan Hansen), Rodrick Covington (Once On This Island), Amber Iman (Shuffle Along…, Soul Doctor), Janelle McDermoth (A Bronx Tale), Drama Desk Award winner Abena Mensah-Bonsu (School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play), Adesola Osakalumi (Fela!), Lance Roberts (My Fair Lady, “Yo Gabba Gabba!”), Avery Smith (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), and Antoine L. Smith (CarouselMiss Saigon).

A young man returns home to the African coastal city of Mombasa, Kenya, to marry his betrothed and step into his family’s political dynasty. But when he visits Moto Moto – a steamy afro-jazz club and the stomping ground of his youth – he finds himself drawn to a beautiful, mysterious new singer. Soon, he must decide whether to fulfill the legacy of his lineage, or give in to his love of music and a newfound attraction.  A story of love, destiny, the spirit world and the power of passion, inspired by the ancient myth of Marimba, the goddess of music.

performances 
July 26th at 8pm
July 27th at 8pm
July 28th at 2pm
July 28th at 7pm

Play Workshop – The Best We Could

The Best We Could (a family tragedy), the second ‘Inside Look’ Play Workshop of the season (July 25-27), by Emily Feldman and directed by Daniel Aukin, will feature Drama Desk Award winner Eboni Booth(Dance Nation), Drama Desk Award nominee Kristin Griffith (The Fatal Weakness), Tyrone Mitchell Henderson (Much Ado About Nothing), Drama Desk Award nominee Lisa Joyce (“Insecure,” The Ugly One), and Tony Award winner Frank Wood (NetworkThe Iceman Cometh).

A daughter’s road trip with her father becomes a theatrical journey across more than just state lines. This funny, wise, and heartbreaking debut from an exciting new writer will be brought to vibrant life by director Daniel Aukin.

performances 
July 25th at 8pm
July 26th at 8pm
July 27th at 2pm

 

July Reading – The Excavation of Mary Anning

 

The Excavation of Mary Anning, the seventh reading of the season (July 21 at 4pm), by Ian August and directed by Sammi Cannold, will feature Sami Bray (1984School of Rock), Alejandra Escalante (Tee’d Off), Vanessa Kai (credits), Amy Jo Jackson (Theresa & Allison), Nike Kadri (credits), and Patrena Murray (Gloria: A Life).

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Cast List

Queen Latifah Set to Play Ursula in Live Musical (Not Live-Action) Little Mermaid Broadcast

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Photo: Queen Latifah Instagram

Queen Latifah has recently announced that she will be playing Ursula in ABC’s live musical version of The Little Mermaid, (not to be confused with the live-action movie remake starring Halle Bailey).

The actress, singer, rapper, mogul & icon will be joined by reggae musician and actor,  Shaggy as Sebastian the crab, and the voice of Moana Auli’i Cravalho as Ariel.

Ursula will add to Queen Latifah’s ever-growing collection of musical theatre roles and her 2nd time in a live musical broadcast, after having played The Wiz in NBC’s The Wiz Live.

This live event will air on November 5th on ABC and will be part of the Disney celebrating 30 years since the initial release of The Little Mermaid (1989). It will combine concert-style performances, costumes and set from the 2008 Broadway musical, and footage from the original animated feature.

Director Hamish Hamilton described the set as an immersive “dive in theatre” and will feature a projection surface in the middle. Despite the broadcast being a celebration of the original movie, the broadcast will feature songs from the Broadway musical. specifically for the characters who didn’t have solo songs in the original movie.

No new songs will be added to this production, strengthening its positioning as a celebration and not as an entirely new version of The Little Mermaid. 

The Wonderful World of Disney presents The Little Mermaid Live! will air Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. ET, live on ABC.

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Amber Riley & MJ Rodriguez Will Star in Little Shop of Horrors

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Amber Riley and Mj Rodriguez

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Olivier Award winner for her portrayal of Effie White in London’s West End production of DreamgirlsAmber Riley (Dreamgirls UK) and Pose star Mj Rodriguez will star in a reimagined production of Little Shop of Horrors at Pasadena Playhouse in California.

Riley will take on the iconic voice of Audrey II while Rodriguez will star as Audrey alongside George Salazar (Be More Chill) as Seymour.

The show will run from Sept. 17-Oct. 20 with an official opening set for Sept. 25.

Little Shop of Horrors is considered a classic. It’s a horror-comedy rock musical with music by Alan Menken and lyrics and a book by Howard Ashman. The story follows a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood and flesh. It debuted Off-Broadway in 1982 and the movie version of 1986 introduced the world to young talents of Gina and Pam Tisha Campell and Tichina Arnold.

Directed by Mike Donahue, the design team includes scenic design by Dane Laffrey; costume design by Danae McQueen; lighting design by Josh Epstein; sound design by Veronika Vorel; and choreography and puppet design by Sean Cawelti.

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