Public Theater Extends Passing Strange through 7/1

The Public Theater has announced that due to popular demand, the critically acclaimed rock musical Passing Strange will extend for an additional four weeks with performances continuing through Sunday, July 1st. 

Passing Strange is a new rock musical by singer/songwriter and performance artist Stew and Heidi Rodewald, directed by and created in collaboration with Annie Dorsen (Democracy in America, Belgrade Trilogy), and with movement coordination by Karole Armitage (Armitage Gone! Dance Company).  A co-production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre that was developed at the Sundance Theatre Lab and at the Stanford Institute for Creativity and the Arts, Passing Strange began previews Monday, May 1st and opened Monday, May 14th.  The show was previously announced to run though Sunday, June 3rd.  

"The world premiere of Passing Strange takes musical theatre on a whole new trip.  Stew, a popular performer at Joe's Pub, was commissioned by The Public and Berkeley Rep to develop this moving and hilarious story of a young black bohemian in search of self and home who charts a course for "the real" through sex, drugs, and rock and roll...It's a quirky journey from L.A. to authenticity, crossing boundaries of place, identity, and theatrical convention on the way.  Stew's unique sound has been dubbed Afro-Baroque cabaret, and Entertainment Weekly has twice named his CDs 'Album of the Year,'" state press materials. 

Passing Strange showcases a cast of African-American actors and singers, who performed in the Berkeley Rep production this past fall. Since graduating from NYU, de'Adre Aziza has worked with the Classical Theatre of Harlem, won several jazz vocal competitions, recorded jazz and hip-hop music for top New York radio stations, and performed with eminent jazz artists. Trained at the Juilliard School, Daniel Breaker appeared on Broadway in Lisa Kron's Well and off-Broadway in Fabulation (Playwrights Horizons) and Pericles (The Culture Project). In addition to her many stage and screen credits, Eisa Davis has performed her original music on Showtime's "Soul Food" and at BAMCafé, Joe's Pub, the Whitney Museum, and beyond. 

Colman Domingo's off-Broadway acting credits include American Maul, Bright Ideas, Henry V, Up Jumped Springtime, and Wet – and he also directed the critical success Single Black Female. Chad Goodridge has performed off-Broadway at the Cherry Lane Theatre in The Debate over Courtney O'Connell and Home Free! and his regional experience includes roles in numerous plays at Chautauqua Theater Company and the Williamstown Theatre Festival.  Rebecca Naomi Jones recently appeared in Fallen Angel, a new rock musical that was part of the New York International Fringe Festival. Her previous credits include Caroline, or Change (Ahmanson Theatre, Curran Theatre).

Stew is the critically acclaimed singer, songwriter, founder, and leader of The Negro Problem, a pop rock combo from Los Angeles. The group's albums "Post Minstrel Syndrome "and "Joys & Concerns" garnered nationwide acclaim and numerous accolades. In 2000, Stew and Rodewald co-founded the Afro-Baroque cabaret ensemble known as STEW, and their CD Guest Host was named 'Album of the Year' by Entertainment Weekly.

Heidi Rodewald is the thinner, lighter half of the multidisciplinary ensemble known as STEW. For almost a decade she has been a performer, arranger, producer, and composer in both STEW and The Negro Problem. With Stew, she co-wrote the screenplay We Can See Today and, when it was invited to the 2005 Sundance Screenwriters Lab, they became the only artists ever to have projects in both the Film and Theatre Labs simultaneously.

Led by Stew and Rodewald, the show's company of musicians will include guitarist, keyboardist, and musical supervisor Jon Spurney.  On keyboards and guitar will be Marc Doten.  On drums will be Christian Cassan.  Passing Strange will have scenic design by David Korins, costume design by Elizabeth Hope Clancy and lighting design by Kevin Adams.

Tickets are on sale at The Public Theater box office, 425 Lafayette Street; on-line at www.publictheater.org or by phone at 212-967-7555 (please note new number). 

 

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