New York City
Stew and Rodewald’s new musical runs at the Public Theater.
The Total Bent, a new musical featuring a book by Stew, and a score by Stew and Heidi Rodewald, celebrated its opening night at the Public Theater on May 25. Joanna Settle directs the production, which will run through June 19.
The Total Bent explores the life of a young black musical prodigy in a nation on the verge of social upheaval. The company is made up of Ato Blankson-Wood (Marty Roy), Kenny Brawner (Deacon Charlie), David Cale (Byron Blackwell), Vondie Curtis-Hall (Joe Roy), Damian Lemar Hudson (Deacon Dennis), Jahi Kearse (Andrew), and Curtis Wiley (Abee).
The onstage band will feature the show's composers Stew and Rodewald, as well as musical director Marty Beller, John Blevins, and Brad Mulholland.