(© Stephanie Diani)
Unchain My Heart, The Ray Charles Musical, featuring the music of Ray Charles with a book by Suzan-Lori Parks, will come to Broadway in the fall, at a theater to be announced. Sheldon Epps will direct the production, which will begin previews October 8, with an opening set for November 7. Casting for the 20-member company will be announced at a later date.
Set during Charles’ last live recording session, the musical explores the strength, humor and musical genius of this legendary figure. Unchain My Heart will feature some of Charles’ best-known hits including: “Georgia on My Mind,” “What’d I Say,” “Mess Around,” “Hit The Road, Jack,” “Unchain My Heart,” “I Got a Woman” and “Hallelujah, I Love Her So.”
The creative team will include Kenneth L. Roberson (choreography), Rahn Coleman (musical supervision and arrangements), Harold Wheeler (orchestrations), Riccardo Hernandez (sets), Paul Tazewell (costumes), Donald Holder (lights), and Carl Casella (sound).
An earlier, developmental production was produced at the Pasadena Playhouse in 2007 under the title of Ray Charles Live! For TheaterMania’s review of that production, click here.
Parks is currently represented Off-Broadway by The Book of Grace at the Public Theater. She won a Pulitzer Prize for Topdog/Underdog, with other works including In the Blood, 365 Days/365 Plays, and Venus.
For more information, visit www.UnchainMyHeartOnBroadway.com.
