A PORTRAIT OF RAY to Debut at Newark Symphony Hall & Symphony Space

A Portrait of Ray (Charles) is making its Newark debut on November 13th at Newark Symphony Hall and will be showing for a second nigh November 14th at Symphony Space in New York City for a one-night only performance.

After popular demand, the seasoned cast is back together again on stage for a highly anticipated encore performance as an extension of the TD James Moody Jazz Festival and Newark's 350th anniversary celebration

The unforgettable story of Ray Charles is he show is Newark native - Dwayne Clark - also of the stellar Broadway production, The Color Purple - starring as Ray Charles himself in this intimate musical that tells the very popular heart warming story of the legend in a unique compilation of song and narrative. Over the last twenty years Dwayne has graced nearly a dozen Broadway stages including Spiderman, In the Heights, Rent, Smokey Joe's Cafe, Tarzan, Cry Baby and Porgy and Bess.

The story told takes the audience to 1967 through the eyes of Ray Charles at the height of his career. Set during a homecoming concert in Greenville, Florida, the Rock and Soul pioneer freely shares personal anecdotes and raw commentary of love, life, trials and triumphs. A Portrait of Ray showcases Ray's voice both as we love to remember him musically, and giving us his raw perspective on his voice for social change.

In addition to Clark, the cast features Ray's jaw dropping "Raelettes," as well as a ten piece mini-big band featuring World Class Jazz Saxophonist - Don Braden as "Fat Head N ewman." A Portrait of Ray includes many of his charts topping favorites lead by Clark.

All vocals featured in the play provide an authenticity and nostalgia worthy of telling the story of the legend - "a limber Tenor with athleticism and grace comparable to the likes of a Cab Calloway, or a Sammy Davis Jr." - The New York Times

The musical was conceived and written by both Dwayne Clark and wife Janeece Freeman Clark, whom is also an accomplished playwright and producer. Both their creative and romantic relationship began over a decade ago in the Broadway cast of "Urinetown the musical" and three consecutive shows later (in which the couple was consistently cast opposite one another) they married and have worked on stage with one another ever since.

About the Writer & Producer: Janeece Freeman-Clark serves as both the Producer and Director of Portrait. She is currently an Artist-in-Residence at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and is the Co-Founding Artistic Director of Vanguard Theater Company. Her directing credits include the critically-acclaimed world premiere of A Night in New Orleans, and most recently the NY Fringe Festival Favorite: Everything is fine...until it's not. She has directed/produced alongside Ray Chew (American Idol) and Musical Theater Guru-Seth Rudetsky at NJPAC's Spotlight Gala.

NEWARK SHOWING:
Newark Symphony Hall
November 13th at 3:00pm

NEW YORK SHOWING:
Symphony Space
November 14th at 7:00pm

For tickets or more information, visit PortraitofRay.com.