SISTAS: THE MUSICAL Celebrates Third Year Off-Broadway

SISTAS: The Musical, the joyful Off-Broadway production recently celebrated its three year anniversary at St. Luke's Theatre. The cast, crew, and creative team gathered after the November 8 performance to celebrate with audience members and to kick off the show's fourth season.

Recent special guests at the show have included WABC-TV Anchorwoman Sandra Bookman, Senator Cory Booker with teenage members of Newark's Team on the Move, Harry Belafonte and Grammy nominated singer/songwriter, Janis Ian, who's 1965 hit song, "Society's Child" is featured in the production.

With news of their grandmother's passing, a group of sisters come together to pick a song to honor their grandmother's legacy at her memorial service. While cleaning out her attic, they find old memories celebrating her life and contributions to their family and to the community. In the process, they are reminded of many songs that trace the history of Black women, spanning from the days of Jim Crow to the Girl Groups of the 60's, the female empowerment of the 90's and the challenges of today's youth.Written by Fullbright Scholar and Columbia University Professor, Dr. Dorothy Marcic, Sistas is based on interviews conducted with 100 African American women over a six year period. "Ultimately, Sistas: The Musical is a story of family, of the history that binds us, of the love we share that transcends social and racial differences. It is a joyous celebration of strong women," says Dr. Marcic.

With hits including Oh Happy Day, Precious Lord, Stormy Weather, R.E.S.P.E.C.T., Say a Little Prayer, Tyrone, I Have Nothing, Single Ladies, and A Woman's Worth, SISTAS tells the evolutionary story of African American women through popular music.

The current cast stars Aurellia Williams (Simone), Jennifer Fouche (Roberta), Robyn Payne (Gloria), Amy Goldberger (Heather), and Danea Robinson (Tamika).
"At its heart, Sistas is a universal story about family, and it's been an absolute pleasure to watch families of all ages from all over the world connect, relate, and rediscover themselves in our show's characters, music, and story," said director, Kenneth Ferrone.

Sistas The Musical originally premiered as part of the Midtown International Theatre Festival. The production began previews Off-Broadway at St Luke's Theatre on September 29, 2011 and officially opened on October 23, 2011. The show was released on DVD and digital download (iTunes, Netflix) by RLJ Worldwide/One Village Entertainment in 2013, and has been nationally broadcast on the BET Network.

Sistas is produced by William Franzblau, Hinton Battle, and Jenkay LLC, Written by Dorothy Marcic, Directed by Kenneth Ferrone and Choreographed by Lauren Lim Jackson. Production Stage Manager: Robert Levinstein. Costume Design by Tricia Barsamian, Lighting Design by Kia Rogers and Set Design by Josh Iacovelli. Casting by Jamibeth Margolis.

To post a comment, you must register and login.