Theater News

World Premiere of Paradise Blue Begins at Williamstown Theatre Festival

Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson directs the new play, which starts tonight.

Blair Underwood plays Blue in the new drama Paradise Blue, which begins tonight at the Williamstown Theatre Festival's Main Stage.
Blair Underwood plays Blue in Paradise Blue, which begins tonight at the Williamstown Theatre Festival's Main Stage.

Williamstown Theatre Festival presents Paradise Blue on the Main Stage starting tonight. The drama tells the story of Blue, a gifted trumpeter, who is finally trying to move on. In an effort to escape the demons of his past and to forge a better future, he contemplates selling his once-vibrant jazz club in Detroit’s Blackbottom neighborhood. This decision affects not only Blue, but the devoted Pumpkin, who has dreams of her own, and the resident bebop band. However, everyone’s plans change when a mysterious woman comes to town "with a walk that drive men mad." As her own designs collide with those already in place everyone’s world is turned upside in a drama that illuminates the challenges of trying to create a better life from the remains of our predecessors.

Ruben Santiago-Hudson directs the world premiere of Dominique Morisseau's play. Tony Award nominee De’Andre Aziza stars as Silver, with Andre Holland as P-Sam, Kristolyn Lloyd as Pumpkin, Keith Randolph Smith as Corn, and Gold Globe nominee Blair Underwood as Blue.

The creative team includes Neil Patel (set design), Rui Rita (lighting design), Clint Ramos (costume design), Darron West (sound design), Thomas Schall (fight director), Kenny Rampton and Bill Sims Jr. (composer), and Lloyd Davis Jr. (stage manager).

Performances will run through August 2.

For tickets and more information, click here.

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Paradise Blue

Closed: August 2, 2015