Kearse, Reeder Lead Studio Theatre's PASSING STRANGE, 7/14-8/8

Washington, D.C.'s Studio Theatre has announced the complete casting for its production of Passing Strange, which will run July 14 through August 8. Keith Alan Baker and Victoria Murray will co-direct the musical, written by Stew and Heidi Rodewald, with music direction by Christopher Youstra and choreography by Helanius Wilkins.

The musical follows a young black artist from Los Angeles leaves his church, his friends and his mother behind to take a chance on Europe. In this wild "musical experiment" by rock musician Stew, a sundry bunch of artists, anarchists, holy rollers, tokers, and teens explore culture, race, sexual freedom, family bonds, and the meaning of Art. The cast collides with a live band to create an inimitably strange poetry slam meets rock concert-cum-musical.

Passing Strange will star Jahi A. Kearse (Narrator), Aaron Reeder (Youth), Deidre LaWan Starnes (Mother), and Jessica Frances Dukes (Marianna).

The cast will also feature Lulu N. Fall, S. Lewis Feemster, Courtney Gatson, Baye Harrell, Deborah Lubega, Sean Maurice Lynch, Juan Carlos Sanchez, Shaunte Tabb, Derek Thomas, Natalie Tucker, and Eric R. Williams. The band will include Christopher Youstra (Piano), Kim Spath (Guitar), Yusef Chisolm (Bass), and BrIan Gibson (Drums).

The design team will include Giorgos Tsappas (set), Justin Thomas (lighting), Erik Trester (sound/projections), and Kristopher Castle (costumes).

For tickets and more information, click here.

The Studio Theatre's mission is to produce the best in Contemporary Theatre. Its restless, innovative spirit makes it a leader both in Washington, DC, and in the nation. Artist-founded and artist-driven, The Studio Theatre demands the highest quality production values. In its four-theatre performance complex, The Studio Theatre brings audiences provocative writing and unparalleled artistry in performance, directing and design. The Studio 2ndStage creates edgy and explosive productions that complement The Studio Theatre's season, and our Special Events series produces and presents one-of-a-kind performances that would not otherwise be seen in Washington. The Studio Theatre provides opportunities for developing theatre artists as year-long apprentices and in 2ndStage. The Studio Theatre Acting Conservatory offers rigorous professional theatre training in close partnership with the working artists at The Studio Theatre. The Studio Theatre is deeply invested in the community and in the eclectic vitality of its neighborhood.