Alvin Ailey Dancer Jeroboam Bozeman Joins Black Deaf-Led SOMALIA: THE MUSICAL
Creator Jade Bryan's show blends gospel, hip-hop, and ASL at The Tank in New York City
A new musical is emerging from Harlem that fuses gospel, hip-hop, and American Sign Language (ASL) into a groundbreaking theatrical experience. Somalia: The Musical, created by Black Deaf filmmaker and playwright Jade Bryan, will present an invited staged reading this spring in New York City.
The production features Jeroboam Bozeman, a former Alvin Ailey dancer, marking a compelling crossover from elite concert dance into musical theater. Bozeman's presence signals a bold expansion of movement-based storytelling within a culturally rooted stage work.
Adapted from Bryan's original film If You Could Hear My Own Tune, the musical reflects on life in New York City in the wake of September 11 attacks, blending fiction and lived experience through music, spoken word, and movement.
At its core, Somalia: The Musical stands apart through its integration of ASL performers within a fully music-driven production—an approach rarely seen on stage. Rather than functioning as background or translation, ASL is embedded into the storytelling structure itself, aligning with Bryan's ongoing work through Deaf Talent initiatives.
Music direction is led by Jean Hedwyn Lamy, supporting a dynamic cast of featured vocalists and performers representing a wide range of cultural and artistic backgrounds.
This staged reading serves as part of the project's development pipeline, with long-term goals toward Off-Broadway and beyond.
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