Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope 2005

Opened: November 28, 2005
Closing: November 28, 2005

Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope - 2005 - Washington, DC (Regional) History , Info & More

Ford's Theatre
511 10th Street, NW Washington, DC

Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope is a musical revue with music and lyrics by Micki Grant. It was originally produced by Edward Padula.



The all-singing, all-dancing show focuses on the African American experience with songs on such topics as tenements, slumlords, ghetto life, student protests, black power, and feminism. The music is a mixture of gospel, jazz, funk, soul, calypso, and soft rock.



The show had its first staging at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. in 1971, with subsequent stagings at the Locust and Walnut Street Theatres in Philadelphia. The Broadway production, directed by Vinnette Carroll and choreographed by George Faison, opened on April 19, 1972 at the Playhouse Theatre, where it ran for two months before transferring to the Edison. It had a total run of 1065 performances. The cast included Grant, Alex Bradford, Hope Clarke, and Arnold Wilkerson. It was the first Broadway play to be directed by an African American woman. Time Magazine theatre critic T. E. Kalem praised the show, writing "This is the kind of show at which you want to blow kisses." The Los Angeles production featured Paula Kelly.

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Student Blog: Zodiac Signs of Tony-Nominated Musicals
by Student Blogger: Madison Moore - Mar 22, 2021


The criteria are that these shows have been nominated for Best Musical from the 3rd Tony Awards (the ceremony that started the Best Musical category) in 1949 to the nominations of what will now be the 74th Tony Awards in 2021. I will be determining their signs based upon their Broadway premiere date. With those rules in mind, here we go!

Composer Ricky Ian Gordon To Receive P.R.I.D.E. Performing Arts Award
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 27, 2019


The Playthings Theatre, an LGBTQ+ Company in New York City, will be performing its gala concert PlayFresh on Monday, March 11th at 7:00pm. PlayFresh is an evening of new LGBTQ+ music performed by Broadway's finest. Playthings will be honoring Ricky Ian Gordon with The P.R.I.D.E. Performing Arts Award for his contribution to theatre and the LGBTQ+ community.

Muny Announces Full Cast and Creative for THE WIZ; Darius de Haas, E. Faye Butler, and More
by Julie Musbach - May 30, 2018


The Muny announced today its full cast, design and production team for the theatre's centennial season production of The Wiz, June 19 - 25. 

BWW Exclusive: The Scarce History of Tony-Nominated Female Writers by the Numbers
by Daniella Parcell - Jun 10, 2017


This year's Tony Award nominations feature a rarity: a Best Play category comprised of as many women as men. Surrounding Paul Vogel's INDECENT and Lynn Nottage's SWEAT, however, is a profusion of male-written work; of the Best Musical nominees, only one so much as includes a woman on its writing team (Irene Sankoff, COME FROM AWAY).

Did You Know... Our Favorite Fun Facts About the 2017 Tony Nominees!
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The 2017 Tony nominations were announced this morning. If you haven't checked them out yet, what are you waiting for?! CLICK HERE to check out a full list of this year's nominees, and HERE for reactions from the lucky few!

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by BWW News Desk - Oct 6, 2015


Broadway In Chicago presents the Chicago premiere of UNSPEAKABLE, a dramatic fantasia inspired by the life of comedic legend Richard Pryor. UNSPEAKABLE features a cast of many prominent Chicago performers and will play the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut St.) for a limited five-week engagement tonight, Oct. 6 through Nov. 8, 2015.

James Murray Jackson, Jr. to Reprise Role in Chicago Premiere of UNSPEAKABLE; Cast Announced!
by BWW News Desk - Sep 11, 2015


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INVISIBLE THREAD, Previously Titled WITNESS UGANDA, and Kenny Leon-Helmed SMART PEOPLE Set for Second Stage's 2015-16 Season
by Tyler Peterson - May 7, 2015


Second Stage Theatre has announced two New York Premiere productions for its upcoming 37th season.  The season will kick off in fall 2015 with the New York Premiere production of Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews' new musical, INVISIBLE THREAD (previously titled Witness Uganda), in association with American Repertory Theater, directed by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus (Finding Neverland, Pippin).  The season will continue in early 2016 with the New York premiere of Lydia R. Diamond's (Stick Fly) critically acclaimed play, SMART PEOPLE, directed by Tony Award Winner Kenny Leon (Fences, A Raisin in the Sun, Stick Fly). Two additional productions remain to be announced. 

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by BWW News Desk - Feb 3, 2014


The winner of the 2014 Richard Rodgers Production Award for Musical Theater was announced today by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, which administers the Richard Rodgers Awards.

Juneteenth Legacy Theatre Presents August Wilson's WOMEN Mar 25-Apr 10
by BWW News Desk - Apr 10, 2010


Juneteenth Legacy Theatre presents August Wilson's Women At The Nuyorican Poets Café

Juneteenth Legacy Theatre Presents August Wilson's WOMEN Mar 25-Apr 10
by BWW News Desk - Mar 25, 2010


Juneteenth Legacy Theatre presents August Wilson's Women At The Nuyorican Poets Café

Juneteenth Legacy Theatre Presents August Wilson's WOMEN Mar 25-Apr 10
by BWW News Desk - Mar 2, 2010


Juneteenth Legacy Theatre presents August Wilson's Women At The Nuyorican Poets Café

The National Jazz Museum in Harlem Announces Feb 2010 Events
by Gabrielle Sierra - Jan 28, 2010


The National Jazz Museum in Harlem's February 2010 schedule of events are chock full of choices for all from newcomers to the music to seasoned fans of music.

National Jazz Museum in Harlem Announces Their February Schedule
by Gabrielle Sierra - Jan 27, 2010


The National Jazz Museum in Harlem's February 2010 schedule of events are chock full of choices for all from newcomers to the music to seasoned fans of music.

GYPSY OF THE MONTH: Tracee Beazer of 'Memphis'
by Adrienne Onofri - Nov 3, 2009


Back on Broadway after performing regionally and on tour, Tracee's hoping to transition into principal roles.

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