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Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River

By: Jun. 15, 2019
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Two River Theater presents Oo-Bla-Dee, written by Regina Taylor, featuring original lyrics by Taylor and original music by composer/orchestrator Diedre L. Murray, directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson. The choreography is by Kenneth L. Roberson and the music direction is by George Caldwell, with vocal arrangements by Carol Maillard.

Two River Theater celebrated the opening night performance of Oo-Bla-Dee last night in Two River's Rechnitz Theater, 21 Bridge Avenue, Red Bank, NJ. The run continues through June 30. Tickets are available from 732.345.1400 or tworivertheater.org. Scroll down for photos of the celebration.

Oo-Bla-Dee follows Evelyn Waters and the Diviners, an all-black, all-female jazz band, as they travel from St. Louis to Chicago in order to set up a record deal following the end of World War II. On this trip toward freedom the latest member of the group, sax player Gin Del Sol, must wrestle with the complex timing of the music as well as the complicated times in which she lives.

The company includes Marva Hicks as Evelyn Waters, Amber Iman as Luna C, Stanley Wayne Mathis as Shorty, Monica J. Palmer as Ruby, Cedric Sanders as Arthur/Soldier, Stacey Sargeant as Lulu, Allison Semmes as Gin Del Sol, and Chesney Snow as the Vocal Foley. The band consists of George Caldwell (conductor/piano), Corinthia Cromwell (saxophone), Eli Fountain (percussion) and Mimi Jones (bass).

The creative team includes scenic designer Michael Carnahan, costume designer Karen Perry, lighting designer Jane Cox, sound designer Jane Shaw, and projection designer Alex Basco Koch. The copyist is Kevin Massey and the wig designer is J. Jared Janas. The casting is by Binder Casting/Chad Eric Murnane, CSA. The assistant stage manager is Larry Copeland and the production stage manager is Mark Dobrow.

Photo Credit: Lia Chang

high res photos

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
OO-BLA-DEE Playwright Regina Taylor

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
The cast and band of OO-BLA-DEE: Mimi Jones, Eli Fountain, Chesney Snow, Amber Iman, Allison Semmes, Cedric Sanders, Marva Hicks, Monica J. Palmer, Stacey Sargeant, Corinthia Cromwell, Stanley Wayne Mathis and George Caldwell

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Seated: Choreographer Kenneth L. Roberson, Director Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Standing: (L-R) Marva Hicks, Carol Maillard, Mimi Jones, Allison Semmes, Eli Fountain, Stacey Sargeant, Amber Iman, Sanders, Music Director George Caldwell, Stanley Wayne Mathis, Corinthia Cromwell, Chesney Snow and Monica J. Palmer

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Director Ruben Santiago-Hudson

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
The company of Regina Taylor's OO-BLA-DEE during the opening night curtain call at Two River Theater.

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Cedric Sanders, Stacey Sargeant, Marva Hicks, Allison Semmes, Amber Iman, Stanley Wayne Mathis, Monica J. Palmer and Chesney Snow during the opening night curtain call at Two River Theater.

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Cedric Sanders, Stacey Sargeant, Marva Hicks, Allison Semmes, Amber Iman, Stanley Wayne Mathis, Monica J. Palmer and Chesney Snow during the opening night curtain call at Two River Theater.

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Michael Cumpsty, Two River Theater''s Artistic Director John Dias and Director Ruben Santiago-Hudson

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Michael Cumpsty, Two River Theater''s Artistic Director John Dias

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Marva Hicks and her husband, Akwasi Taha

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
The Band: Eli Fountain, Mimi Jones, Corinthia Cromwell, George Caldwell and Chesney Snow.

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Vocal Arranger Carol Maillard, Marva Hicks, Amber Iman, Cedric Sanders and Corinthia Cromwell.

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Mark Sendroff, Regina Taylor and Lori Tan Chinn

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Allison Semmes

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Allison Semmes

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Amber Iman

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Amber Iman

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Monica J. Palmer

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Monica J. Palmer

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Stacey Sargeant

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Cedric Sanders

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Cedric Sanders

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Marva Hicks and Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Director Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Scenic Designer Michael Carnahan

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Vida Landron, Regina Taylor and Lori Tan Chinn

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks and her husband, Akwasi Taha

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Marva Hicks, Monica J. Palmer and Amber Iman

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Kenneth L. Roberson, Marva Hicks, Lee Summers, Sean Derrick Cooper Marquardt

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Garth Kravits

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Crossroads Theatre Company''s Artistic Director Marshall Jones, III and his wife, Chantal Jean-Pierre

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Amber Iman, Kenneth L. Roberson, Stacey Sargeant and Ruben Santiago-Hudson

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Eli Fountain, Corinthia Cromwell, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Mimi Jones, Chesney Snow and George Caldwell

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Ruben Santiago-Hudson with his daughter, Lily Santiago-Hudson and Trey Santiago-Hudson

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Marva Hicks

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Marjorie Johnson and Garth Kravits

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Trey Santiago-Hudson and Lily Santiago-Hudson

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Sandra Mills Scott, Lia Chang, Marjorie Johnson

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Elain Graham and Terria Joseph

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Regina Taylor and a guest

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Corinthia Cromwell

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Allison Semmes

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
James Holloway, Chesney Snow, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Lia Chang, Brian D. Coats and Charlie Hudson III. Photo by Garth Kravits

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Jeanine Foster-McKelvia and Allie Woods

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Garth Kravits, Brian D. Coats, Taylor Barfield, Charlie Hudson III

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Allison Semmes, Stanley Wayne Mathis and Stacey Sargeant

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Stanley Wayne Mathis, Lia Chang and James Holloway. Photo by Garth Kravits

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Scenic Designer Michael Carnahan and Lighting Designer Jane Cox.

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Stacey Sargeant and Ruben Santiago-Hudson

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Cedric Sanders and Stacey Sargeant

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Steve Broadnax, a guest and Brian D. Coats

Photo Flash: Regina Taylor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marva Hicks, Lori Tan Chinn And More Celebrate OO-BLA-DEE Opening Night At Two River  Image
Lori Minor and Amber Iman

 



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