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SJ Presents is proud to be one of the first to welcome audiences to the much-anticipated event, LOVE JONES THE MUSICAL Based on Theodore Witcher's 1997 cult classic film where the familiar story is retold in a concert-style setting featuring a star-studded cast including MUSIQ SOULCHILD, CHRISETTE MICHELE, Marsha Ambrosius, DAVE HOLLISTER, RAHEEM DEVAUGHN, MC LYTE and more on Friday, October 21, 2016 at 8PM located at Newark Symphony Hall 1020 Broad Street, Newark.
Love Jones The Musical, a stage adaptation of the critically acclaimed 1997 Love Jones film, stage production boasts an all-star cast of R&B music's biggest names including Chrisette Michelle, Musiq Soulchild, Marsha Ambrosius, MC Lyte, Raheem Devaughn and Dave Hollister who were all carefully selected to star in the must see musical event of the year.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the popular romantic drama, the stage play takes the essence of the film and tells its story through music. Fusing chart-topping hits and fan favorite songs from the music artists, along with a few original songs, Love Jones The Musical, will be a transformative experience.
Produced by veteran theater producer Melvin Childs of Produced By Faith with stage play written by Timothy Allen Smith and directed by Zadia Ife, Love Jones The Musical, tells the universal and timeless story of love, heartbreak and starting over. The film's original writer and director, Theodore Witcher, serves as consulting producer.
"We are really excited about this opportunity to break new ground with this musical, as it relates to African American offerings in theater around the country," says producer Melvin Childs. "Our team has created something truly special and sincerely hope to live up to the expectations of the fans of the iconic film, Love Jones."
Love Jones was originally released in 1997 and became a cult classic film that captured the imagination of an entire generation. The soundtrack was equally impressive with a blend of neo-soul and R&B hits that fueled the 90s. The film was written and directed by Theodore Witcher and tells the classic, yet gritty, love story of Darius Lovehall (an up & coming writer and self-proclaimed renaissance man) and Nina Mosley (an aspiring photographer). The film starred Larenz Tate, Nia Long, Isaiah Washington, Bill Bellamy and Lisa Nicole Carson.
Set in Chicago, Darius (Larenz Tate) and Nina (Nia Long) meet in a nightclub, where an unassuming open mic event quickly turns into an explosive spoken word give and take that leaves the audience speechless. From the moment they lay eyes on each other, Darius and Nina's lives are turned upside down. Their mutual attraction is obvious, but they are both on the rebound from unfinished previous relationships and neither of them is ready for "the real thing." As much and as hard as they try and fight it, neither of them can resist what is pulling them together. It's a passion, an obsession...a 'love jones' that comes along once in a lifetime.
The film was considered one of the greatest cinematic love stories of the 90's and portrayed a side of black culture that was not reflected onscreen at a time when heavy drug and violent gang films populated the theaters.
