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Born for This: The BeBe Winans Story Celebrates Opening Night at Arena Stage

The Winans family shares its story in Washington, D.C.

Collaborators BeBe Winans (book, music, and lyrics) and Charles Randolph-Wright enjoy the opening-night festivities.
Collaborators BeBe Winans (book, music, and lyrics) and Charles Randolph-Wright enjoy the opening-night festivities.
(© Cameron Whitman)

Born for This: The BeBe Winans Story celebrated its opening night on July 7 at Washington, D.C.'s Arena Stage. Celebrating the musical legacy of the Winans family, the show continues its world-premiere coproduction with Atlanta's Alliance Theatre.

Siblings and costars Deborah Joy Winans and Juan Winans celebrate opening night of Born for This at Arena Stage.
Siblings and costars Deborah Joy Winans and Juan Winans celebrate opening night of Born for This at Arena Stage.
(© Cameron Whitman)

Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, the production features original songs and Winans family hits, with a book by Randolph-Wright and Winans. Leading the cast as BeBe and CeCe Winans are the pair's real-life nephew and niece Juan Winans and Deborah Joy Winans.

Juan Winans, who stars in the title role, smiles for a photo with his daughter.
Juan Winans, who stars in the title role, smiles for a photo with his daughter.
(© Cameron Whitman)

The company also features Chaz Pofahl as Jim Bakker, Kirsten Wyatt as Tammy Faye Bakker, Kiandra Richardson as Whitney Houston, Nita Whitaker as Mom Winans, Milton Craig Nealy as Pop Winans, Dyllon Burnside as Michael Winans and Howard, Desmond Sean Ellington as Carvin Winans and Alvin, Brad Raymond as Ronald Winans, Michael Stiggers as Marvin Winans, Nick Morrett as Bob, Alison Whitehurst as Penny, Kurt Boehm as Jimmy Ray, and Gracie Jones in the ensemble.

The company of Born for This: The BeBe Winans Story gathers for a group photo on opening night.
The company of Born for This: The BeBe Winans Story gathers for a group photo on opening night.
(© Cameron Whitman)

Born for This runs at Arena Stage through August 28.

For tickets and more information, click here.

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