Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES

By: Mar. 14, 2019
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Ruben Santiago-Hudson's powerful and touching solo play "Lackawanna Blues" is currently running at the Mark Taper Forum. Produced by Center Theatre Group, See photos from opening night!

"Lackawanna Blues" is written, performed and directed by Santiago-Hudson with live music performed by Grammy-winning blues guitarist, composer and actor Chris Thomas King. The production will run through April 21 with the opening set for March 13 at 8 p.m.

Original music for the production is composed by Bill Sims Jr. with additional music composed by King. The design team includes scenic designer Michael Carnahan, costume designer Karen Perry, lighting designer Jen Schriever and sound designer Philip G. Allen. The production stage manager is David S. Franklin.

A magical, musical and deeply personal work by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson, "Lackawanna Blues" is a reminiscence of his 1950s childhood in a small town on the banks of Lake Erie. Santiago-Hudson takes on more than 20 colorful characters-from would-be philosophers and petty hustlers to lost souls and abandoned lovers-in a brilliant celebration of the eccentric boardinghouse he grew up in. Santiago-Hudson returns to his roots in this tour de force performance accompanied throughout by live blues music.

Photo Credit: Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
From left, actors Jason R. Moore and Jodi Lyn O'Keefe

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
Actor Jodi Lyn O'Keefe

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
Actor Larry Powell

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
Actor James Pickens Jr.

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
Actor Jonathan Adams

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
Actor Okieriete Onaodowan

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
Actor Aaron Takahashi

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
Actor Kate Linder

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
From left, actors Loni Love and Jackée Harry

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
Actor Jason Dirden

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
Actor Erica Ash

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
Actor Sabina Zuniga Valera

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
Actor Suzanne Cryer

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
From left, actors Suzanne Cryer and Amy Aquino

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
Actor Amy Aquino

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
Actor Ben Vereen

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
Actor Shoniqua Shandai

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
From left, Roberto Portales and actor Mara Marini

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
Actor Mara Marini

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
Actor Jennifer Leigh Warren

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
Actor Henri Lubatti

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
Actor Sally Struthers

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
From left, Desiree DaCosta and actor Blair Underwood

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
From left, guitarist Chris Thomas King and creator/performer Ruben Santiago-Hudson

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
From left, guitarist Chris Thomas King and creator/performer Ruben Santiago-Hudson

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
Creator/performer Ruben Santiago-Hudson

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
From left, guitarist Chris Thomas King and Center Theatre Group General Manager Nausica Stergiou

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
From left, filmmaker Adam Davidson and creator/performer Ruben Santiago-Hudson

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
From left, actor Jennifer Leigh Warren and creator/performer Ruben Santiago-Hudson

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
From left, Jeannie Brittan, creator/performer Ruben Santiago-Hudson and actor Jodi Lyn O'Keefe at the party for the opening night performance of "Lackawanna Blues" at Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum on March 13, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging)

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
From left, actors Blair Underwood, Sally Struthers and Trey Santiago-Hudson

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
From left, scenic designer Michael Carnahan and creator/performer Ruben Santiago-Hudson

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
From left, creator/performer Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Jeannie Brittan and actor Trey Santiago-Hudson

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
From left, guitarist Chris Thomas King and creator/performer Ruben Santiago-Hudson

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
From left, actor Blair Underwood and Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
From left, actors Blair Underwood, Roz Ryan and Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
From left, actor Sally Struthers and Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
From left, creator/performer Ruben Santiago-Hudson and actor Blair Underwood

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
From left, creator/performer Ruben Santiago-Hudson, actors Ben Vereen, Sally Struthers, Blair Underwood and Roz Ryan

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
From left, actor Ben Vereen, actor Blair Underwood, Desiree DaCosta, Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie and creator/performer Ruben Santiago-Hudson

Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's LACKAWANNA BLUES
From left, scenic designer Michael Carnahan, creator/performer Ruben Santiago-Hudson and guitarist Chris Thomas King



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