Every day is opening night.

“BLUE,” THE BELOVED PLAY, TO HAVE ITS BROADWAY DEBUT UNDER THE DIRECTION OF PHYLICIA RASHAD

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE

 

“BLUE”

THE BELOVED PLAY

BY CHARLES RANDOLPH-WRIGHT

WITH MUSIC BY NONA HENDRYX

 

TO HAVE ITS BROADWAY DEBUT

SPRING 2020

 

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF

TONY AWARD® WINNER PHYLICIA RASHAD

 

New York, NY (April 22, 2019) – Producer Brian Moreland announced today that Blue, the beloved play by Charles Randolph-Wright with music by Nona Hendryx, will receive its Broadway premiere spring of 2020 at a theater to be announced, under the direction of Tony Award® winner Phylicia Rashad who starred in both the play’s 2000 world premiere at Arena Stage and 2001 New York premiere at Roundabout Theatre Company.

 

Rashad will be making her Broadway debut as a director with this production. Her directing credits include acclaimed productions of four August Wilson classics: Gem of the Ocean at Seattle Repertory Theatre, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Joe Turner’s Come and Gone at the Mark Taper Forum, and Fences at both the Long Wharf Theatre and the McCarter Theatre. Additionally, she has directed at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre and New York’s Signature Theatre.

 

With fierce wit and astonishing honesty, Blue explores the complexities of identity and trust behind the carefully constructed façade of the Clarks, a socially prominent family that is struggling with the legacy and pitfalls of their own good fortune. Infused with a searing jazz and soul score, Blue celebrates the love and spirit of a family coming to terms with itself.

 

Randolph-Wright said, “Part of the inspiration for writing Blue was that I had never seen a family like mine on stage. I am thrilled that Blue will continue to open doors to a more diverse world, and also spread a little joy.”

 

Hendryx said, “I am excited that Phylicia, Charles, and Brian are bringing Blue back to the stage. I am thrilled to be part of a play about a family coping with life, love, secrets, and lies.”

 

Rashad added, “I am happy to be directing this play that brought me so much joy. It affirms the importance of theater and its power to touch the human heart.”

 

Moreland commented, “Blue is a comedy, about a family reshaping ways to love unconditionally. We are thrilled and honored to bring this show to Broadway, under the visionary, watchful eyes of Ms. Phylicia Rashad.

 

Blue will be produced on Broadway by Moreland, Eric Falkenstein, and Ron Simons.

 

Additional news about Blue including cast and design team will be announced shortly.

 

 

B I O G R A P H I E S

CHARLES RANDOLPH-WRIGHT (Playwright and Lyrics) has built a dynamic and diversified career in directing, writing, and producing for theater, television, and film. In addition to Blue, he has written Cuttin’ Up, The Night is a Child, Love in Afghanistan, and co-wrote Bea Arthur’s Tony Award nominated show Just Between Friends. As a director, Randolph-Wright has directed the international hit Motown The Musical and Born For This which he co-wrote with gospel icon Bebe Winans.

 

Randolph-Wright made his directorial film debut with Preaching to the Choir. For television, he has directed episodes “Greenleaf,” “Step Up Highwater,” “Lincoln Heights,” and “South of Nowhere.” His screenplay credits include The Emmett Till Story, Fool’s Hill, Shades of Grey, Legacy, White Cousins, and Homework.

 

NONA HENDRYX (Music and Lyrics). Revolutionary art-rock, artist Nona Hendryx is a celebrated vocalist, songwriter, musician, and author. Tackling social issues, love, and politics, Hendryx’s legendary career spans decades of sound and style evolution. Hendryx fans know her as one of the groundbreaking group Labelle and their No.1 worldwide hit “Lady Marmalade (Voulez Vous Coucher Avec Moi C’est Soir?)” Hendryx, came into her own as a solo artist post Labelle. On her album Mutatis Mutandis (changing those things which need to be changed), Hendryx striking rendition of Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit” is somewhere between funk and the end of the stratosphere.

 

PHYLICIA RASHAD (Director) directed Our Lady of 121st Street at the Signature Theatre; The Roommate at Steppenwolf Theatre; Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom  Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, and Immediate Family at the Mark Taper Forum;  Fences at the Long Wharf Theatre and McCarter Theatre; Immediate Family at the Goodman Theatre; Four Little Girls at the Kennedy Center; A Raisin in the Sun at Ebony Repertory Theatre, Kirk Douglas Theatre, and Westport Country Playhouse; and Gem of the Ocean at Seattle Repertory Theatre.

 

As an actress – Broadway: August: Osage County, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Cymbeline (Lincoln Center Theater), August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean (Tony nomination), A Raisin in the Sun (Tony and Drama Desk Awards), Into the Woods, Dreamgirls, The Wiz. Off-Broadway:  A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Head of Passes (Lucille Lortel Award), The Story, Helen, Everybody’s Ruby, Blue ,Bernarda Alba. Regional: Every Tongue Confess, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Medea. Film: Creed II, Creed, Good Deeds, For Colored Girls…, Frankie and Alice, Just Wright, Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored, Loving Jezebel, The Visit. Television: “David Makes Man,” “This is Us,” “A Raisin in the Sun” (NAACP Image Award, Emmy, and SAG nominations), “The Old Settler,” “Free of Eden,” “Cosby,” and “The Cosby Show.”