MAHALIA, A Gospel Musical, Starring Bernardine Mitchell Returns to MetroStage January 21

MetroStage is pleased to welcome Bernardine Mitchell, S. Renee Clark and William Hubbard back to MetroStage to reprise their roles in MetroStage's award-winning production of Mahalia, a gospel musical, by Tom Stolz, opening January 21 and running for eight weeks through March 14, 2010. This production was originally seen at MetroStage in 2004, with Bernardine Mitchell winning the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Actress in a Resident Musical and William Hubbard being nominated as Outstanding Supporting Actor. The late Carol Mitchell Leon directed the original, and Thomas W. Jones II will direct this production.

Director Thomas W. Jones II is an Artistic Associate at MetroStage where several of his original musicals have premiered. Since 2001 Jones has written and directed Harlem Rose, Three Sistahs, Two Queens One Castle, Bricktop, Cool Papa's Party, and, most recently, Pearl Bailey...By Request, which is currently being performed at Milwaukee Rep's Stackner Theatre. Cool Papa's Party is being workshopped in anticipation of a New York production.

Mitchell was most recently seen in Atlanta (her hometown) in A Christmas Carol at the ALLIANCE THEATRE and a Thomas W. Jones II original play entitled A Cool Drink of Water at the Black Arts Festival. Following Mahalia she will return to Atlanta to star in His Eye is on the Sparrow about Ethel Waters at the Theatre on the Square in Marietta, GA.

Clark was most recently in Madeline's Christmas in Atlanta. She was pianist for The Mystery of Irma Vep and will be the music director for His Eye is on the Sparrow following Mahalia. Hubbard was most recently seen here at MetroStage in Cool Papa's Party and as Hot Lips Page in Pearl Bailey...By Request. He also recently music directed Black Pearl Sings at Fords Theatre and was composer and arranger for Black Nativity in Chattanooga, TN.

Mitchell and Hubbard were seen at MetroStage together in the original musical Three Sistahs (nominated as Outstanding New Musical by the Helen Hayes Awards). In addition to the Helen Hayes recognition for Mahalia both have received Helen Hayes Awards (and multiple nominations); Mitchell for Blues in the Night and Hubbard for Crowns, both at Arena Stage. Clark is an acclaimed music director in Atlanta and made her stage debut with Mitchell in an earlier production of Mahalia at Theatre in the Square in Marietta, Georgia.

This ensemble of three remarkable actors, musicians and gospel singers will portray Mahalia and her journey from a shanty in New Orleans to the stage of Carnegie Hall, with Mr. Hubbard playing her Cousin Fred, the blind organist Francis, and DR. Martin Luther King Jr., and Ms. Clark as Aunt Duke, and Mahalia's longtime accompanist Mildred Falls.

Design consultants are: set, Brandon Guilliams; lights, Jessica Winfield, original sound, Mimi Epstein; costumes, Janine Gulisano-Sunday and Cathy Cleveland; properties, Kevin Laughon. Jessica Winfield is the Equity Stage Manager.

Mahalia is in performance Jan. 21-Mar. 14, 2010. Performances are Thursdays and Fridays at 8, Saturdays at 3 and 8, and Sundays at 3 and 7. Tickets range from $45-50 and group rates are available. Tickets can be reserved by calling 1-800-494-8497 www.boxofficetickets.com. Groups should call 703-548-9044. Some nights are already sold out.

MetroStage is located at 1201 North Royal St., Alexandria, Virginia, in the north end of Old Town Alexandria. It has off street parking and is fully accessible.

 

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