Theater News

Branford Marsalis to Compose Music for Broadway Fences

Branford Marsalis
Branford Marsalis

Three-time Grammy Award winner Branford Marsalis will compose original music for the Broadway revival of August Wilson’s Fences, which will begin performances on April1 14 at the Cort Theatre in anticipation of an April 26 opening. Kenny Leon will direct.

As previously announced the production will star two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington (Troy) and Tony Award winner Viola Davis (Rose), along with Chris Chalk (Cory), Stephen McKinley Henderson (Jim Bono), Russell Hornsby (Lyons) and Mykelti Williamson (Gabriel). Eden Duncan-Smith and SaCha Stewart-Coleman will alternate in the role of Raynell.

In addition to Marsalis, who is making his Broadway debut with this production, the creative team will include Santo Loquasto (set design), Constanza Romero (costume design), Brian MacDevitt (lighting design), and ACME Sound Partners (sound design).

The play takes place over eight years from 1957 to 1965 and concerns Troy Maxson, a Pittsburgh sanitation worker who once dreamed of a baseball career, but was too old when the major leagues finally admitted black players.

For further information, visit: www.FencesOnBroadway.com.