Sneak Peek of BREATH & IMAGINATION Set for Hartford Stage, 1/17

Join us at Hartford Stage for FreeView, a preview of select scenes followed by an intimate Q & A session with the actors and director of Breath & Imagination, at 12 p.m. January 17. There will also be a free raffle for great prizes and receive special show discounts just for attending.

Breath & Imagination, a new play by Daniel Beaty, directed by Darko Tresnjak, is on stage from January 10 through February 9. Before Marian Anderson and Paul Robeson, there was Roland Hayes - the first world-renowned African-American classical vocalist. A world premiere, Breath & Imagination, chronicles his amazing journey from a plantation in Georgia, to singing before kings and queens in Europe. At the heart of the story is Roland's loving, yet complex relationship with his mother - his Angel Mo'. Breath & Imagination explores the life of an American pioneer through traditional spirituals and classical music, as well as original songs by Daniel Beaty.

A classically-trained American baritone, JubilantSykes (Sacred Music USA's Vocalist of the Year) will portray Roland Hayes. Kecia Lewis (Broadway'sLeap of Faith, Chicago and Once on This Island) will portray Roland Hayes' mother, Angel Mo'. Tom Frey (2 Pianos/4 Hands) will complete the cast as The Accompanist/Officer/Pa/Preacher/Mr. Calhoun/Miss Robinson/ Frenchman/King George V/The Horse.

Breath & Imagination is produced in association with City Theatre in Pittsburgh.

For a more specific schedule of performances or to buy tickets for Breath & Imagination, call the Hartford Stage box office at 860-527-5151 or visit www.hartfordstage.org.

Hartford Stage, since its founding in 1963, has been known for innovative revivals of classics and the development of important new works, including 65 World or American premieres. Recent work includes Quiara Alegria Hudes' Water by the Spoonful, winner of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama; Horton Foote's The Orphans' Home Cycle which had a celebrated run at the Signature Theatre in New York during the 2009-2010 season; a landmark production of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird; the premieres of Michael Kramer's Divine Rivalry; and Daniel Beaty's Resurrection (later retitled Through the Night, which had a successful run off-Broadway during the 2010-11 season). In 1998 the theatre launched an unprecedented ten-year retrospective of Tennessee Williams, which included the premiere of three plays. Other new work includes the premieres of Eve Ensler's Necessary Targets, Edward Albee's At Home at the Zoo, Matthew Barber's Enchanted April (which transferred to Broadway), Matthew Lombardo's Tea at Five, and many others. The theatre has earned numerous distinguished honors, including a Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, the Margo Jones Award, OBIE awards, New York Critics Circle and Drama Desk awards. In 2005 Hartford Stage was awarded The Hartford Courant's Tapestry Award recognizing its outstanding work in diversity, and in 2008 it was awarded the Bank of America Neighborhood Builder's Award recognizing its excellence in building community in Greater Hartford. Hartford Stage is currently under the leadership of Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak and Managing Director Michael Stotts.