Encores! Off-Center Announces Casting for Bubbly Black Girl and Really Rosie

On the heels of the Encores! Off-Center production of Assassins, which completed its brief run at New York City Center on July 15, the series's artistic director Michael Friedman has announced casting for the next two Off-Center productions, The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin (Concert Production) (July 26 and 27) and Really Rosie (August 2-5).

As previously announced, Tony winner Nikki M. James (The Book of Mormon) will lead the cast of The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin as Viveca. Joining her will be Penelope Armstead-Williams, Tanya Birl, Kaitlyn Davidson, Josh Davis (Director Bob), Yurel Echezarreta (Modern Teacher), Lauren E.J. Hamilton, Korey Jackson (Gregory), Kingsley Leggs (Daddy), Jo’Nathan Michael, Kenita R. Miller, Julius Thomas III (Ballet Teacher), Shelley Thomas (Mommy), and Alex Wong (Jazz Teacher).

Written by Kirsten Childs, the story follows a young African-American dancer, Viveca, from West Coast suburbia to Broadway, all the while navigating the politics of race and gender in an attempt to uncover her own identity. The show will be directed by Robert O’Hara with choreography by Byron Easley and music direction by Annastasia Victory.

Joining the previously announced Taylor Caldwell (School of Rock) in Maurice Sendak and Carole King’s Really Rosie will be Swayam Bhatia, Kenneth Cabral, Ayodele Casel, Jaiya Chetram, Eduardo Hernandez, Nanyellin Liriano, Chris Lopes, Zell Steele Morrow, Charlie Pollock, Ruth Righi, Anthony Rosenthal, and Nicole Wildy.

Directed by Leigh Silverman, with music direction by Carmel Dean and Mary-Mitchell Campbell, and choreography by Ayodele Casel, Really Rosie is a family-friendly musical for the dreamer in all of us is, inspired in part by the stories in Sendak’s Nutshell Library, and features song by King including "Pierre," "Alligators All Around," and "Chicken Soup with Rice."

For tickets to The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin, click here.

For tickets to Really Rosie, click here.