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PHOTO FLASH: Mercedes Ellington, Brian Stokes Mitchell at Special Presentation of New Musical, YES!

Brian Stokes Mitchell and Mercedes Ellington
(© John Wegorzewski)
Brian Stokes Mitchell and Mercedes Ellington
(© John Wegorzewski)

Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell was among the attendees at a special presentation of Earl Wilson Jr.’s new musical YES! at The Baruch Performing Arts Center on Monday, March 5. Mercedes Ellington served as director and choreographer, as well as the evening’s narrator.

The musical — presented by The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts as part of its Theater Salon Series — imagines a meeting between Barack Obama & Dr. Martin Luther King in a mille-second of space time, in 2004 at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. It envisions how Dr. King helps Mr. Obama embrace the journey to the White House and his place in history as the first Black President of the United States.

The cast included T. Oliver Reid as Dr. King, Erick Pinnick as Barack Obama, Allyson Tucker as Michelle Obama, Brittany Nicholas as Sasha Obama, Joanne Javien as Malia Obama, and Adreinne Fishe as Rosa Parks. Dancers included Michael Choi, Vanda Polaskova, and Sarika Hudson.

The music arranger/director was Eugene Gwozdz, music consultant was J. Leonard Oxley and the choir director was Anthony Evans.

N’Kenge was a featured soloist in the choir, which also included Adreinne Fishe, Brittany Nicholas, Joanne Javien, Jessica Foster, Samantha Blain, Richie Abanes, Ray Bendana, Megan Corcoran, Joshua Dela Cruz, Renee Veronica Freeman, Francheska Gomez, Javier E. Gomez, Kimberly Hamby, Brianna Horne, Cameron Bernard Jones, Francesca MacArron, Jaygee Macapugay, Tyrone Roberson, Cara Scherker, Kevin Paul Smith, Whitney, Anthony Wills, Jr. and Yaniv Zarif.