David Bazemore, Ayanna Berkshire & More Set for CTG's THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, Beginning Tonight

"The Scottsboro Boys" begins previews tonight, May 21 at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre at the Los Angeles Music Center. Opening night is May 29 and performances run through June 30, 2013.

Five-time Tony Award-winner Susan Stroman reprises her direction and choreography for this exclusive engagement of "The Scottsboro Boys," which has music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb and book by David Thompson.

The cast features Gilbert L. Bailey II, David Bazemore, Ayanna Berkshire, Shavey Brown, Christopher James Culberson, Joshua Henry, Trent Armand Kendall, Max Kumangai, Hal Linden, JC Montgomery, Justin Prescott, Clinton Roane, Cedric Sanders, Deandre Sevon, Christian Dante White and C. Kelly Wright.

"The Scottsboro Boys" has set design by Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Toni-Leslie James, lighting design by Ken Billington and sound design by Jon Weston. The production stage manager is Evangeline Rose Whitlock.

"The Scottsboro Boys" had its world premiere at the Vineyard Theatre in New York in February 2010. It was presented on Broadway in October through December 2010.

John Kander and Fred Ebb have collaborated for the theatre on "Flora, the Red Menace," "Cabaret" (Tony Award for Best Composer and Lyricist), "Chicago," "Woman of the Year" (Tony Award for Best Original Score), "Kiss of the Spider Woman" (Tony Award for Best Original Score), "Curtains" (which had its world premiere at the Ahmanson Theatre in 2006), and many more. Their films include "Funny Lady," "Cabaret," "New York, New York" (the title song became the official anthem of New York City in 1985), "Chicago," "Kramer vs. Kramer," "Places in the Heart" and more. Ebb died in 2004 and "The Scottboro Boys" was their last collaboration.

David Thompson received Tony Award and Drama Desk Award nominations, and Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Awards for Best Musical for the book of "The Scottsboro Boys." His other work includes "Steel Pier" (Tony nomination) and "Thou Shall Not," plus an adaptation of the script for the current revival of "Chicago" now on Broadway. His upcoming Broadway credits include "The Prince of Broadway." Off-Broadway credits include "And the World Goes 'Round" (Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards) and the revival of "Flora, the Red Menace" (Drama Desk nomination).

Tickets for "The Scottsboro Boys" are available at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org, the CTG box office located at the Ahmanson Theatre, or by calling (213) 972-4400.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride