Ep 75 Interviews with Nora Cole and Alex Sanchez
Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre is presenting The World According to Micki Grant Off-Broadway at WP Theater, located at 2162 Broadway @ 76th Street, from May 31-June 29, with an official opening set for June 6.
The biomusical, which explores the life and work of multihyphenate artist Grant, is compiled, adapted, and directed by Nora Cole. wp.me/p8ilTC-a09
The cast features Matelyn Alicia, April Armstrong, Patrice Bell, and Brian Davis. Alicia, Armstrong, and Bell will perform the verse-and-music project as Micki the composer, Micki the poet, and Micki the woman, while Davis' character embodies the male figures from Grant's works.
It was twelve years between Micki Grant's door-opening hit pop single, "Pink Shoe Laces" (Crystalette Records, 1959), and when she made history as the first Black woman to write the book, music, and lyrics of a Broadway musical with "Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope" (1971). From then until her death in 2021, she generated a rich oeuvre of theater writings including music and lyrics for "Your Arms Too Short to Box With God," "So Nice To Be Civilized" and "Working." Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre (NFT), newly relocated to WP Theatre, 2162 Broadway (at 76th St.), will celebrate her legacy with "The World According to Micki Grant," an evening of music, song, poetry and dance. In addition to music from her well-known, award-winning musicals, it samples from her poetry and prose writings, music rarely heard, and unpublished works.
The play was commissioned to Nora Cole by New Federal Theatre after Micki Grant's death in 2021. Elizabeth Van Dyke, Producing Artistic Director of NFT, had been given a trove of Micki Grant's unpublished poetry by her nephew, Darryl Walker, and Van Dyke's initial impulse was to create an evening of it. Development spanned six staged readings, during which time Ms. Grant's music increasingly crept in. Ultimately the piece became a verse-and-music project for four actors and two pianists. It will be performed by four actor/singers: three women and one man.
Beside her trailblazing musical voice--that was comfortable with calypso, spoken-word, soul, funk, jazz and proto-hip-hop--the show showcases examples of her mischievous wit and clever style.
The creative, design and production team includes Musical Director Tom Spahn, Choreographer Lakai Worrell, Set designer and Technical Director Patrice Davidson, Assistant Set Designer Marlon Campbell, Lighting designer Victor En Yu Tan, Costume Designer Ali Turns, Sound Designer Aalics Bronson, Projections Designer Michele Baldwin, Properties are by Marlon Campell, Production Stage Manager Fumiko Tanaka, Assistant Stage Manager Mary Caitlyn Deffely, Casting Director Lawrence Evans.
This is New Federal Theatre's first production at its new home, WP Theater, located at 2162 Broadway @ 76th Street. NFT had previously been in residence in the former home of All Stars Project, 543 West 42nd Street, which has moved to new digs nearer to Times Square.
Alex Sanchez talks about The Gardens of Anuncia, his love of ballet and transitioning from performer to choreographer.
I caught up with my frequent collaborator Alex Sanchez, an award winning New York City Based director and choreographer, who has been recognized for his co-choregraphy of Lincoln Center Theater's New York Premiere of Michael John LaChiusa's THE GARDENS OF ANUNCIA with Graciela Daniele. The Gardens of Anuncia received two 2024 Lucille Lortel Award nominations including Outstanding Choreography for Graciela Daniele and Alex Sanchez and Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical for Priscilla Lopez; and two 2024 Drama Desk Awards nominations for Outstanding Choreography for Graciela Daniele and Alex Sanchez and Outstanding Book of a Musical for Michael John LaChiusa.
Website: Alexsanc.com