wo River Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, announces the complete cast for its production of Oo-Bla-Dee, written by Golden Globe Award winner Regina Taylor (Crowns, I’ll Fly Away), featuring original songs by Taylor and Obie Award winning composer Diedre L. Murray (Running Man, Eli’s Comin’), directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson (August Wilson’s Jitney, Lackawanna Blues).
Performances will begin in Two River’s Rechnitz Theater, 21 Bridge Avenue, on Saturday, June 8 and continue through Sunday, June 30. The opening night performance is Friday, June 14 at 7pm.
The play follows Evelyn Waters and the Diviners, an all-black, all-female jazz band, as they travel from St. Louis to Chicago in order to set up a record deal following the end of World War II. On this trip toward freedom the latest member of the group, sax player Gin Del Sol, must wrestle with the complex timing of the music as well as the complicated times in which she lives.
The acting company includes Marva Hicks (Motown the Musical; Caroline, or Change) as Evelyn Waters; Amber Iman (Hamilton First National Tour, Shuffle Along) as Luna C; Jonathan Kirkland (Hamilton original Chicago company, Cabin in the Sky) as Arthur/Soldier; Stanley Wayne Mathis (The Book of Mormon, The Lion King) as Shorty; Monica J. Palmer (The Lion King National Tour, Sistas the Musical) as Ruby; Stacey Sargeant (Two River’s Intimate Apparel, Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of the Future) as Lulu; Allison Semmes (Motown the Musical, The Book of Mormon) as Gin Del Sol; and Chesney Snow (In Transit, The Unwritten Law) as the Vocal Foley.
Additional information about the musicians and design team for Oo-Bla-Dee will be announced soon.
Ticket prices range from $40 to $70, with discounts available for groups, seniors, and U.S. military personnel, their families, and veterans. A limited number of $20 tickets are available for every performance; $20 tickets may be partial view. Tickets for patrons under 30 are $20 and include the best available seats at every performance. Tickets are available from tworivertheater.org or 732.345.1400.
