Tony Nominee Jonelle Allen to Portray Florence Mills in BLACKBIRD This Halloween at Saddleback College
Tony Award nominated actress Jonelle Allen will star in BLACKBIRD, The Story of Broadway Legend Florence Mills, October 30th and October 31st at 7:30 p.m. at Saddleback College's Studio Theatre.
This premiere musical is the story of Florence Mills as told through the eyes of Jonelle Allen. Mills was the first African American musical theatre star. Born to former slaves, she began performing at age 3. From the TOBA circuit to Broadway, Florence Mills charmed audiences with her eccentric dancing and her unique high pitched voice.
Florence worked with Sissle & Blake, performed the songs of William Grant Still, learned to tap from Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and inspired Duke Ellington's haunting melody, "Black Beauty."
Yet, while we remember the names mentioned, history barely remembers Florence Mills.
With an exuberant, powerful performance of favorites like "I'm Just Wild About Harry," "A Good Man Is Hard To Find," and Mills' signature song, "Blackbird," Allen transforms the solo genre.
On her journey to discover who Florence Mills was, Allen uncovered some important truths about herself. Through song, dance and video, Allen tells her story alongside Florence's and the result is a magical night of theatre.
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Good Night, Oscar North Coast Repertory (9/16-10/11) |
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Much Ado About Nothing McCadden Place Theatre (8/07-8/16) |
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6 Out of 10 Theatre 68 (8/20-8/20) |
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After the Blast The Broadwater Second Stage (8/05-8/13) |
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Catch Me If You Can Colony Theatre (9/17-10/18) |
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Emily Skinner: In Concert Feinstein's at the Nikko (8/14-8/15) |
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Gershwin and the Golden Age Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya) (10/11-10/11) |
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John Lloyd Young Feinstein's at the Nikko (8/21-8/22) |
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Love, Loss and What I Wore Sawyer's Playhouse (8/08-8/30) |
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Our Man in Santiago by Mark Wilding Odyssey Theatre Ensemble (9/10-9/20) |