Theater News

Brandon Victor Dixon to Star in Broadway’s Unchain My Heart

Brandon Victor Dixon
(© Tristan Fuge)
Brandon Victor Dixon
(© Tristan Fuge)

Brandon Victor Dixon will play the title role in Unchain My Heart, The Ray Charles Musical, featuring the music of Ray Charles with a book by Suzan-Lori Parks, which will come to Broadway on October 8 at a Shubert theater to be announced. Sheldon Epps will direct the production, which will open officially on November 7.

The show will also feature Nikki Renee Daniels as Della, Harrison Brown as Jeff White, and Tasha Taylor as Margie Hendricks. Additional casting will be announced at a later date.

Set during Charles’ last live recording session, the musical explores the strength, humor and musical genius of this legendary figure. Unchain My Heart will feature some of Charles’ best-known hits including: “Georgia on My Mind,” “What’d I Say,” “Mess Around,” “Hit The Road, Jack,” “Unchain My Heart,” “I Got a Woman” and “Hallelujah, I Love Her So.” An earlier, developmental production was produced at the Pasadena Playhouse in 2007 under the title of Ray Charles Live!

The creative team will include Kenneth L. Roberson (choreography), Edgar Godineaus (associate choreographer), Rahn Coleman (musical supervision and arrangements), Harold Wheeler (orchestrations), Riccardo Hernandez (sets), Paul Tazewell (costumes), Donald Holder (lights), and Carl Casella (sound).

Dixon, who starred in the L.A. production of the show, was recently seen in the Off-Broadway production of The Scottsboro Boys, for which he has received Outer Critics Circle Award, Lucille Lortel Award, and Drama League Award nominations. He received a Tony Award nomination for The Color Purple and his other stage credits include House of Flowers and The Lion King.

For more information, visit www.UnchainMyHeartOnBroadway.com.