MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL Heads to Philadelphia, 4/3-5

MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL, the hit musical celebration of the life and music of the original 1970s "Queen of Disco," Sylvester, will come to Philadelphia for one weekend only, performing at the Painted Bride Art Center (230 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106) for five shows only: Friday, April 3rd, 2015 @ 8pm; Saturday, April 4th, 2015 @ 2pm & 8pm; and Sunday, April 5th, 2015 @ 3pm & 7:30pm.

MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL is currently in its final week at the Brava Theater Center (2781 24th Street) in San Francisco. The limited engagement, which began on February 11th, will end on Sunday, March 1st.

For tickets for performances in both San Francisco and Philadelphia, visit www.FabulousSylvester.com.

Produced by AnthonyKen LLC and Sheryl Lee Ralph/The DIVA Foundation, MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL is written by and stars Anthony Wayne (Pippin, Anything Goes, Priscilla Queen of the Desert) and is co-directed by Mr. Wayne and Kendrell Bowman, who also serves as the show's costume designer.

Sylvester James, Jr. (September 6, 1947 -- December 16, 1988), better known as Sylvester, was an American disco and soul singer-songwriter. Known for his flamboyant, androgynous appearance, he became known in the United States as the "Queen of Disco." Born in Watts, LA, Sylvester developed a love of singing through the gospel choirs of his Pentecostal church, which he left after being persecuted for his homosexuality. His career started as an early founder of a group of black cross-dressers and trans women known as The Disquotays. After that group disbanded, he moved to San Francisco and embraced the counterculture, joining a drag troupe, The Cockettes, and he eventually produced solo shows heavily influenced by female blues and jazz singers like Billie Holiday and Josephine Baker. Sylvester left the Cockettes to focus on his solo career, and by 1978, his acclaimed album Step II spawned the disco classics "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" and "Dance (Disco Heat)." He released 12 albums in his career, and had several more hits, including "Do Ya Wanna Funk," and "Can't Stop Dancing." An activist who campaigned against the spread of HIV/AIDS, Sylvester died from complications arising from the virus in 1988. In 2004, "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)," was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame, and one year later in 2005, Sylvester himself was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame for his achievement as an artist.

MIGHTY REAL began a series of concerts at le poisson rouge in New York City in 2012, which were followed by sold-out performances in Washington, D.C. and Miami in 2013. MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL made its Off-Broadway premiere at Theatre at St. Clement's (423 W. 46th Street) in September 2014. The limited engagement ended on Sunday, October 5th after a sell-out run. MIGHTY REAL returned to NYC for a sold-out one-night-only event at The Gramercy Theater on Sunday, January 18th, 2015.

MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL is proudly co-presented by Sheryl Lee Ralph and The DIVA Foundation. Ms. Ralph's award-winning body of work in film, television and the Broadway stage includes originating the role of Deena Jones in the landmark musical Dreamgirls (Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations) as well as the role of Muzzy van Hossmere in Thoroughly Modern Millie. She can currently be seen in the hit TV series "Instant Mom" on Nickelodeon and "Ray Donovan" on Showtime. A passionate health advocate and honored AIDS activist, Ms. Ralph is the founding director of the DIVA (Divinely Inspired Victoriously Aware) Foundation, a 501(C) 3 she created in memory of the many friends she has lost to HIV/AIDS. In the work of "Driving Infectious Viruses Away," The DIVA Foundation focuses on raising awareness, erasing stigma and discrimination, testing, and lowering the HIV infection rate - especially as it pertains to women and young people. As an artist, Sheryl believes in the transformational power of the arts and works to develop new, effective and creative programs to combat the disease. The Foundation disseminates information and provides advocacy and mobilization from a uniquely and unapologetically feminine point of view. Visit www.thedivafoundation.org.

MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL has a set and lighting design by two-time Tony-nominee David Lander (Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, 33 Variations), costume design by Kendrell Bowman, and sound design by Rafe Carlotto / Sound Associates, and choreography by Anastacia McCleskey.

MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL is currently in performance at The Brava Theater Center (2781 24th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110) through March 1st, 2015. The musical will then be presented at the Painted Bride Art Center (230 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106) for five performances only: Friday, April 3rd, 2015 @ 8pm; Saturday, April 4th, 2015 @ 2pm & 8pm; and Sunday, April 5th, 2015 @ 3pm & 7:30pm.

Plans for performances in other cities across the country will be announced shortly.

Tickets for MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL (ranging from $30 - $100) are now available online www.FabulousSylvester.com.

MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL's Live Original Cast Recording is available online on iTunes and CD Baby.

Pictured: Jacqueline B. Arnold, Anastacia McCleskey, DeAnne Stewart, Rahmel McDade, and Anthony Wayne. Photo by Joan Marcus.

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