Marva Hicks, Amber Iman, and More to Sing Jazz in Oo-Bla-Dee
(© David Gordon)
Two River Theater has announced complete casting for Oo-Bla-Dee, written by Golden Globe Award winner Regina Taylor (Crowns), featuring original songs by Taylor and Diedre L. Murray (Running Man), and directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson (Jitney). Performances will begin in Two River's Rechnitz Theater from June 8-30 with an official opening on June 14.
Oo-Bla-Dee follows Evelyn Waters and the Diviners, an all-black, all-female jazz band, as they travel from St. Louis to Chicago in order to set up a record deal following the end of World War II. On this trip toward freedom the latest member of the group, sax player Gin Del Sol, must wrestle with the complex timing of the music as well as the complicated times in which she lives.
The cast will feature Marva Hicks (Motown the Musical) as Evelyn Waters, Amber Iman (Shuffle Along) as Luna C; Jonathan Kirkland (Hamilton original Chicago company) as Arthur/Soldier, Stanley Wayne Mathis (The Book of Mormon) as Shorty, Monica J. Palmer (The Lion King National Tour) as Ruby, Stacey Sargeant (Nantucket Sleigh Ride) as Lulu, Allison Semmes (Motown the Musical) as Gin Del Sol, and Chesney Snow (In Transit) as the Vocal Foley.
Additional information about the musicians and design team for Oo-Bla-Dee will be announced soon.
