Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
Ages: 6+
Opened: April 28, 2016Closing: July 24, 2016
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Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed - 2016 - Broadway History , Info & More
Music Box Theatre (Broadway)
239 West 45th St. New York, NY
In May 1921, the new musical Shuffle Along became the unlikeliest of hits, significantly altering the face of the Broadway musical as well as that of New York City. By the time Shuffle Along stumbled into town after a back-breaking pre-Broadway tour, it was deeply in debt and set to open at a remote Broadway house on West 63rd Street. In a season full of spectacles, such as Sally - a Ziegfeld musical - and another edition of George White's Scandals, Shuffle Along's failure was almost a foregone conclusion. New York City was still in the throes of the Depression of 1920. And despite being celebrated vaudeville performers, Miller and Lyles and Sissle and Blake had never performed on Broadway, much less written a musical. But with an infectious jazz score and exuberant dancing, Shuffle Along ignited not just Broadway but all of New York City. George Gershwin, Fanny Brice, Al Jolson, Langston Hughes, and famed critic George Jean Nathan were among the many fans who repeatedly flocked to West 63rd Street to see a cast which - during its run of 504 performances - featured such incipient luminaries as Josephine Baker, Paul Robeson, Florence Mills, Fredi Washington, and Adelaide Hall. Because of Shuffle Along, Uptown and Downtown met and became one.
Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Billy Porter, Brandon Victor Dixon, and Joshua Henry will star in SHUFFLE ALONG Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed, a striking new production that presents both the 1921 musical itself, and additionally details the events that catalyzed the songwriting team of Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake, and librettists F.E. Miller and Aubrey Lyles to create this ground-breaking work.
SHUFFLE ALONG will have a new book by George C. Wolfe, will be choreographed by Savion Glover, and directed by Mr. Wolfe. SHUFFLE ALONG marks the first time that the writer/director and choreographer will have worked together since their 1996 hit Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk.
Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed - 2016 - Broadway Cast
PREVIEW Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed - 2016 - Broadway
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FEATURED REVIEWS FOR Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
'Shuffle Along' a dancing knockout with historical depth
8 / 10
It is no mean feat to revive an archaic but seminal Broadway musical...and create an entertainment that not only celebrates the classic song-and-dance material but ennobles it further by showcasing the royal talents of Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Billy Porter, Brandon Victor Dixon and Joshua Henry, thus vaulting it to new heights. But it is a yet-greater achievement to simultaneously offer what is essentially a lesson in theatrical and racial history..."Shuffle Along," the final new Broadway musical of the 2015-16 season has achieved all of this. There has been debate about whether this is a musical revival or a new musical. Self-evidently, it is both. It should really be in a Tony category of its own.
George C. Wolfe Returns 'Shuffle Along' to the Spotlight
8 / 10
Theater legend George C. Wolfe aims to right a historical wrong with "Shuffle Along," a new musical -- and it sure feels new, despite what a key producer is arguing -- about the making of an often-overlooked show...Audra McDonald, groundbreaking in her own right, plays Lottie Gee, who was considered the first black ingenue featured in a Broadway musical. Lottie is lusty, busty and trusty..."Shuffle Along" is stylized to evoke an era and focus on big scenes, which can become burdened with exposition..."Shuffle Along" is moving, in fits and starts, as a story about artists who risk their critical and financial fortunes, sculpting a musical from their most raw emotional expressions and their sophisticated artistic heritage, instead of toning down that spirit for mass consumption.
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Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed has had 1 productions including Broadway which opened in 2016.
Best Musical , Best Book of a Musical for George C. Wolfe, Best Choreography for Savion Glover, Best Costume Design of a Musical for Ann Roth, Best Direction of a Musical for George C. Wolfe, Best Lighting Design of a Musical for Jules Fisher, Best Lighting Design of a Musical for Peggy EisenhauerBest Orchestrations for Daryl Waters and Best Scenic Design of a Musical for Santo Loquasto.
Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed has been nominated for several awards. These include Best Musical at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, Outstanding Choreographer at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Savion Glover, Outstanding Costume Design (Play or Musical) at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Ann Roth, Outstanding Choreography at the Drama Desk Awards for Savion Glover, Outstanding Costume Design for a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for Ann Roth, Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for Jules Fisher, Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for Peggy Eisenhauer, Outstanding Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed, Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for Scott Lehrer, and Outstanding Wig and Hair at the Drama Desk Awards for Mia M. Neal.
Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed has won several awards. These include Best Musical at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, Outstanding Choreographer at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Savion Glover, Outstanding Costume Design (Play or Musical) at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Ann Roth, Outstanding Choreography at the Drama Desk Awards for Savion Glover, Outstanding Costume Design for a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for Ann Roth, Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for Jules Fisher, Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for Peggy Eisenhauer, Outstanding Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed, Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for Scott Lehrer, and Outstanding Wig and Hair at the Drama Desk Awards for Mia M. Neal.
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