Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of NINA SIMONE: FOUR WOMEN at Arena Stage
Celebrating the life and music of Nina Simone, one of America's most iconic singers and civil rights activists, Christina Ham's provocative musical journey Nina Simone: Four Women makes its East Coast debut at Arena Stage. Nina Simone: Four Women runs November 10-December 24, 2017 in the Kreeger Theater. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company at their first rehearsal below!
Set in the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, in which four little girls lost their lives in 1963, Ham uses Simone's song "Four Women" as the framework to explore the songstress' shift from artist to artist-activist. Timothy Douglas returns to Arena Stage to direct this "gorgeous and moving testimonial" (Star Tribune).
Joining Harriett D. Foy (Broadway's Amelie and Mamma Mia, Arena's The Women of Brewster Place) as Nina Simone, the cast includes D.C.-area's Felicia Curry (Arena's Disgraced) as Sweet Thing and Theresa Cunningham (Round House Theatre's Caroline or Change) as Aunt Sarah, with Toni Martin (Broadway's Airline Highway) as Sephronia. Darius Smith (Signature's Jelly's Last Jam) will play Nina's younger brother Sam Waymon.
The creative team for Nina Simone: Four Woman includes Music Director Darius Smith, Choreographer Dane Figueroa Edidi, Set Designer Timothy Mackabee, Costume Designer Kara Harmon, Lighting Designer Michael Gilliam, Sound Designer Matthew M. Nielson, Wig Designer Anne Nesmith, Stage Manager Christi B. Spann and Assistant Stage Manager Marne Anderson.
For tickets and more information, visit arenastage.org/shows-tickets/the-season/productions/nina-simone-four-women.
Photos courtesy Arena Stage
Playwright Christina Ham and Harriett D. Foy (Nina Simone)
Director Timothy Douglas and Playwright Christina Ham
Theresa Cunningham (Aunt Sarah), Toni Martin (Sephronia), Playwright Christina Ham, Harriett D. Foy (Nina Simone) and Felicia Curry (Sweet Thing)
Theresa Cunningham (Aunt Sarah) and Toni Martin (Sephronia)
Felicia Curry (Sweet Thing) and Harriett D. Foy (Nina Simone)
Choreographer Dane Figueroa Edidi and Darius Smith (Sam Waymon, Music Director)
