Leaked Character Breakdown for FREEDOM RIDERS Hints at Big Names for NYMF Run

By: May. 16, 2017
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Last week, a fragment of the character breakdown for FREEDOM RIDERS: THE CIVIL RIGHTS MUSICAL was tweeted by the musical's co-writer, Richard Allen (@RealRickyAllen):

Though the majority of the picture is unrecognizable, we do see two clear descriptions of DR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. and Robert F. Kennedy .

Historically, we know these two giant public figures were consistently in friction to each other. Given descriptions in character breakdowns like "He bares the problems of the world on his shoulders (MLK)" and "[he tries] to navigate between domestic and foreign policy (RKF)", we can assume that we'll see their relationship play a prominent role within the musical as it did in reality.

With the added note in the breakdown, "PLEASE INCLUDE STAR NAMES" for each of the characters, we look forward to seeing what this musical brings to these historical figures.

Notably, one of the last depictions of Martin Luther King Jr. on Broadway was in The Mountaintop (2011), played by Samuel L. Jackson. The role was MR. Jackson's Broadway debut.

FREEDOM RIDERS: THE CIVIL RIGHTS MUSICAL explores the true story of the 1961 Freedom Riders through the Deep South. The freedom rides were initially started by the Congress of Racial Equality and later picked up by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, marking a shift in leadership from one generation to another. It was the first time the Civil Rights Movement realized its power collectively as opposed to operating as separate organizations with their own agendas.

The musical was created by Los Angeles screenwriter/director Richard Allen , and San Diego native music producer/songwriter Taran Gray . The duo put up a BETA Event performance of FREEDOM RIDERS Off-Broadway to standing ovations at sold-out performances as part of the 2016 New York Musical Festival (NYMF). FREEDOM RIDERS is now returning to NYMF as a full production for the 2017 festival. FREEDOM RIDERS is currently raising the funds necessary to appear in the festival. You can support the musical at www.gofundme.com/freedomridersmusical.

FREEDOM RIDERS: THE CIVIL RIGHTS MUSICAL is being cast by Chad Eric Murnane, CSA and Faith Anne Abraham, associate.

New York Musical Festival (NYMF) nurtures "the creation, production, and public presentation of stylistically, thematically, and culturally diverse new musicals to ensure the future vitality of musical theater." The festival is entering its 14th year.



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