Lonesome Blues 2018

Opened: June 19, 2018
Closing: July 01, 2018

Lonesome Blues - 2018 - Off-Broadway History , Info & More

York Theatre Company
619 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10022

The world premiere musical Lonesome Blues is the true story of the legendary bluesman Blind Lemon Jefferson: born blind, but ultimately able to express his deepest emotions through music. Discovered on a street corner in the Deep Ellum section of Dallas, Texas in 1925, Jefferson made more than 80 records over the next four years, becoming one the most prolific and influential performers of his generation and propelling the growth of rhythm and blues, soul, doo-wop, rap, and hip-hop. Building on the success of their earlier musical Blind Lemon Blues, presented by the York in 2007 and 2009, Alan Govenar and Akin Babatundé have used new research to probe deeper into the life and psyche of Blind Lemon Jefferson. In Lonesome Blues, Babatundé plays more than ten different roles, channeling the spirits of men and women alike, in a journey that is at once evocative, troubling, and transformative. Songs and monologues bring to life the voice of Blind Lemon Jefferson, his community, and his musical contemporaries, including Blind Willie Johnson, Lillian Glinn, Hattie Hudson, Bobbie Cadillac, and Lead Belly-all coming together in Jefferson's mind on the day of his death, December 19, 1929, in Chicago.

Lonesome Blues - 2018 - Off-Broadway Cast

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Photo Coverage: LONESOME BLUES Celebrates Opening Night at The York Theatre Company
by Genevieve Rafter Keddy - June 20, 2018


The York Theatre Company in association with Documentary Arts, presents the world premiere of the new musical Lonesome Blues, based on the true story of legendary bluesman Blind Lemon Jefferson, created by Alan Govenar (Texas in Paris) and Akin Babatundé (Blind Lemon Blues), directed by Katherine Owens (How Is It That We Live or Shakey Jake + Alice), performed by Akin Babatundé with David Weiss on guitar. Performances began June 12, 2018 for a three-week limited engagement through Sunday afternoon, July 1, 2018 at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue).

Photo Flash: First Look at the World Premiere of LONESOME BLUES
by Julie Musbach - June 14, 2018


The York Theatre Company, in association with Documentary Arts, presents the world premiere of the new musical Lonesome Blues, based on the true story of legendary bluesman Blind Lemon Jefferson, created by Alan Govenar (Texas in Paris) and Akin Babatunde (Blind Lemon Blues), directed by Katherine Owens (How Is It That We Live or Shakey Jake + Alice), and performed by Akin Babatunde with David Weiss on guitar.

Photo Coverage: Meet The Cast and Creative Team of LONESOME BLUES
by Genevieve Rafter Keddy - June 6, 2018


Meet the cast and creative team of The York Theatre Company world premiere presentation of the new musical Lonesome Blues, based on the true story of legendary bluesman Blind Lemon Jefferson, created by Alan Govenar (Texas in Paris) and Akin Babatunde (Blind Lemon Blues), directed by Katherine Owens (How Is It That We Live or Shakey Jake + Alice), performed by Akin Babatunde with David Weiss on guitar. Performances begin Tuesday, June 12, 2018 for a three-week limited engagement through Sunday afternoon, July 1, 2018 at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). Opening Night is Tuesday, June 19, 2018 at 6:45 p.m.

Lonesome Blues FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What productions of Lonesome Blues have there been?
Lonesome Blues has had 1 productions including Off-Broadway which opened in 2018.

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