SEARCH CurtainUp
REVIEWS
FEATURES
NEWS (Etcetera)
ADDRESS BOOKS
Broadway
Off-Broadway
BOOKS and CDs
OTHER PLACES
Berkshires
London
Los Angeles
Philadelphia
Elsewhere
QUOTES
On TKTS
LETTERS TO EDITOR
FILM
LINKS
MISCELLANEOUS
Free Updates
Masthead
NYC Weather
Harlem Song (review pending)
A preview of the dramatic shadow play dance number that begins Harlem Song
|
Harlem! Once a magical name, then a name associated with decline. Now, climbing back towards a hopeful future. One of Harlem's most enduring and venerated institutions is the Apollo Theater on 125th Street. It almost went down once but with some fixing up already accomplished and more renovation in its near future, the Apollo is home to eorge C. Wolfe's musical celebration, aptly called Harlem Song. Backed by numerous producers, featuring a stellar cast of dancers and singers and a dream design team, this docu-musical will bring Harlem's history alive with the aid of photo images, interviews with Harlem community members and, of course song and dance. The story covers the migration to Harlem, the sounds and sights of the local nightclubs and speakeasies, the rent parties of the depression, the Civil Rights movement. George C. Wolfe who brought us tse wonderful tap dancing history, Bring In 'Da Noise, Bring In 'Da Funk, has once again used history as his creative wellspring. The mood is upbeat, but Harlem Song rings true, without sugar coating the less happy period in Harlem's history.
The sets must come down at the end of the Saturday-Monday performances to make way for other Apollo Acts and the show will go on hiatus some time in September for further renovation of the chandelier hung, grand old theatrical dame. The goal of this production is to restore the glow to the Apollo's waning luster and once again make it a first-class entertainment attraction.
For further information check out the Harlem Song web site (linked below) -- and come back soon for our post-opening review.
| Harlem Song Written and Directed by George C. Wolfe Music byZ ane Mark & Daryl Waters Choreography by Ken Roberson Cast: (alphabetical order) B.J. Crosby, Queen Esther, David St. Louis, Rosa Evangelina Arredondo, Renee Monique Brown, Gabriel A. Croom, Rosa Curry, Randy A. Davis, DeLandis McClam, Erich McMillan-McCall, Sinclair Mitchell, Zoie Morris, DanaShavonne Rainey, Stacey Sargeant, Keith Lamelle Thomas, Charles E. Wallace. Swing: Coie Morris Set Design: Ricardo Hernandez Costume Design: Paul Tazewell Lighting Design: Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer Sound Design: Acme Sound Partner Projection Design: Batwin-Robin Productions Hair Design: David H. Lawrence Musicians: Conductor/Keybords: Zane Mark; Associate Conductor/Keybords: John Gentry Tennyson; Bass: Ben Brown; Guitar: Rodney Jones; Brass: Jason Jackson; Reeds: Bill Easley, Jimmy Cozior; Drums/Contractor: Brian O. Grice Running time: 90 minutes without intermission Appollo Theater, 253 West 125th Street, betweenFrederick Douglass Blvd (8th Ave) and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd (7th Avenue) 212-307-7171web site A, B, C, D subway to 125th Street (walk 1.5 blocks east) or 2, 3 train to 125th Street at Lenox Avenue (walk 1.5 blocks west); 4, 5, 6 subway to 125th Street at Lexington Avenue (walk 4.5 blocks west); Metro-North 125th Street Station at Park Avenue (walk 3.5 blocks west; M2 bus to 125th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Blvd (walk .5 blocks west); M7 to 125th Street and Lenox Avenue (walk 1.5 blocks west) M10 to 125th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd (walk .5 blocks east); M102 to 125th Street and Lenox Avenue (walk 1.5 blocks west) Show Times: Saturday at 2:00 pm, 5:00 pm, and 8:00 pm; Sunday at 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm; Monday at noon and 7:00 pm -- $20-$55 From July 8, 2002; opening August 4, 2002 Closed 12/31/02 but hopes to return annually. To be reviewed after official opening. |
|
Musical Numbers (subject to last mi
OPENING/David St. Louis, B.J. Crosby, Gabriel A. Croom, Randy A. Davis, Charles E. Wallace
nute changes) STROLLIN'
|
6,500 Comparative Phrases including 800 Shakespearean Metaphors by CurtainUp's editor.
Click image to buy.
Go here for details and larger image.
