Opening Night

Shuffle Along, Starring Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell, Set to Open

The Broadway musical, which opens tonight, is the final production of the 2015-16 season.

Broadway

April 28, 2016

Brandon Victor Dixon as Eubie Blake and Audra McDonald as Lottie Gee in a scene from Shuffle Along. — Brandon Victor Dixon as Eubie Blake and Audra McDonald as Lottie Gee in a scene from *Shuffle Along*.
(© Julieta Cervantes)

The starry Broadway productionShuffle Along celebrates its opening night tonight, April 28, at the Music Box Theatre. The evening marks the final Broadway opening of the 2015-2016 Broadway season.

Richard Riaz Yoder (right) with the leading men of Shuffle Along: Joshua Henry, Brandon Victor Dixon, Billy Porter, and Brian Stokes Mitchell. — Richard Riaz Yoder (right) with the leading men of *Shuffle Along*: Joshua Henry, Brandon Victor Dixon, Billy Porter, and Brian Stokes Mitchell.
(© Julieta Cervantes)

Brian Stokes Mitchell with the cast of Broadway's Shuffle Along, directed by George C. Wolfe. — Brian Stokes Mitchell with the cast of Broadway's *Shuffle Along*, directed by George C. Wolfe.
(© Julieta Cervantes)

The show presents the landmark 1921 African-American musical Shuffle Along alongside the story of the behind-the-scenes saga that led the songwriting team of Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake and librettists F.E. Miller and Aubrey Lyles to create this groundbreaking work. George C. Wolfe directs and writes a new book for the production, which features choreography by Savion Glover.

Adrienne Warren and company perform "I'm Just Wild About Harry." — Adrienne Warren and company perform "I’m Just Wild About Harry."
(© Julieta Cervantes)

The cast is led by Tony winners Audra McDonald (Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill), Brian Stokes Mitchell (Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown), and Billy Porter (Kinky Boots), as well as Tony nominees Brandon Victor Dixon (Motown the Musical) and Joshua Henry (Violet).

Brandon Victor Dixon (at piano) and Audra McDonald steal the show.
(© Julieta Cervantes)

A moment from "Bandana Days," performed by the Shuffle Along ensemble. — A moment from "Bandana Days," performed by the *Shuffle Along* ensemble.
(© Julieta Cervantes)

The production features music supervision, arrangements, and orchestrations by Daryl Waters, scenic design by Santo Loquasto, costume design by Ann Roth, lighting design by Jules Fisher & Peggy Eisenhauer, and sound design by Scott Lehrer. Shelton Becton is musical director.