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LaChanze and Her Costars Give Us a First Look at The Secret Life of Bees

The new musical by Duncan Sheik, Susan Birkenhead, and Lynn Nottage opens tomorrow off-Broadway.

The new musical adaptation of The Secret Life of Bees opens off-Broadway tomorrow night at Atlantic Theater Company. Take a look below at newly released photos from the production, directed by Sam Gold.

Elizabeth Teeter (Lily) and Manoel Felciano (T-Ray) in The Secret Life of Bees.
(© Ahron R. Foster)

Based on the novel by Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees features a score by Tony winner Duncan Sheik and Susan Birkenhead, with a book by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage.

The company of The Secret Life of Bees at the Linda Gross Theater.
(© Ahron R. Foster)

The cast features Romelda Teron Benjamin (Queenie/ensemble), Joe Cassidy (Clayton/ensemble), Vita E. Cleveland (Violet/ensemble), Eisa Davis (June), Matt DeAngelis (Silas/ensemble), Manoel Felciano (T-Ray), Brett Gray (Zach), Jai'Len Christine Li Josey (ensemble), LaChanze (August), Anastacia McCleskey (May), Saycon Sengbloh (Rosaleen), Nathaniel Stampley (Neil), and Elizabeth Teeter (Lily).

LaChanze stars as August in The Secret Life of Bees.
(© Ahron R. Foster)

The creative team includes choreography by Chris Walker, scenic design by Mimi Lien, costume design by Dede Ayite, lighting design by Jane Cox, sound design by Dan Moses Schreier, puppets by AchesonWalsh Studios, musical direction by Jason Hart, music contraction by Antoine Silverman, orchestrations by Duncan Sheik and John Clancy, incidental music orchestrations by Duncan Sheik, hair and makeup design by Cookie Jordan, fight direction by UnkleDave's Fight House, and dialects by Dawn-Elin Fraser.

Saycon Sengbloh plays Rosaleen in the new musical by Duncan Sheik, Susan Birkenhead, and Lynn Nottage.
(© Ahron R. Foster)

The Secret Life of Bees is described as follows: "South Carolina, 1964. Lily Owens, a restless white teenager, struggles with her merciless father and the haunting memory of her mother's death. When Rosaleen, her black caregiver, is beaten and jailed for asserting her right to vote, Lily's rebellious spirit is ignited. She and Rosaleen escape on an adventure where they are taken in by a trio of black beekeeping sisters. While Lily tries to unlock the secrets of her past, she and Rosaleen find solace in the mesmerizing world of bees and spirituality in this extraordinary tale of awakening, fellowship and healing."

Brett Gray joins Elizabeth Teeter onstage as Zach.
(© Ahron R. Foster)