Emerging Artists Theatre, the company that produced last season's hit Penny Penniworth, presents the Off-Broadway premiere of The Sensational Josephine Baker, a rich, comedic, moving musical portrait of the unique iconic Jazz Age legend, Josephine Baker. Preview performances begin Tuesday, September 7th, opening night will be Tuesday, September 14 and the play will run through Sunday, October 3rd at TADA Theatre, 15 West 28th Street, 2nd floor, between Broadway and 5th Avenue. Show times are: Monday and Friday at 7pm; Wednesday and Sunday at 2pm; and Saturday at 5pm and 9pm. Tickets are $49 and can be purchased by calling 800-838-3006 or online at emergingartiststheatre.org.
Written and performed by Cheryl Howard and directed by Ian Streicher, the unforgettable story of the one and only Josephine Baker springs to life in this tightly woven play featuring several of Baker's signature songs. The story follows Josephine on her journey from conservative St. Louis, Missouri to the risqué cabarets of the Rue Pigalle, France, from little girl to showgirl. Howard gives voice to this uncensored and emotional tale through an array of fascinating female characters: Josephine's domineering mother, Carrie McDonald; fellow chorus girl Lydia Jones; Ada "Bricktop" Smith, owner of the infamous nightclub "Bricktop's in Montmarte..." And finally a raw, fearless portrayal of Ms. Baker herself in a series of defining moments: from the hilarious antics which rescued her from the obscurity of the chorus, to the humiliation of being shunned by a narrow-minded American public, to her life-long search for unconditional love... compelled throughout it all by an enduring passion to live life to the fullest.
Cheryl Howard has toured and performed extensively throughout the United States and Europe. Broadway credits include: Bebe in Dance a Little Closer; at the American Place Theatre company as Zora Neale Hurston in their production Zora; at the MCC theatre reading of Black and White as Kali; Adele in Golden Motors at the Flea Theatre. Regionally, she has starred as The Witch in Into the Woods; Mazeppa in Gypsy; Pattie Mae in Home, the Musical; LaLa in The Colored Museum; Josephine Baker in Lucky in the Rain; Miss Monisha in Tin Pan Alley Rag; and Muzzie in Thoroughly Modern Millie. Cheryl has starred as Deena Jones in Dreamgirls in Berlin, Germany, and as Josephine Baker in Josephine: The Musical, which toured throughout Europe, winning her a Golden Heart Award for Best Actress in a Musical and Best Musical. She has taught Musical Theatre Workshops at the Stages Performing Arts Academy in St. Louis, MO and holds a B.A. in theatre arts from Rutgers University and a Masters degree in Drama from Washington University in St. Louis.
The Sensational Josephine Baker was presented as a reading in EAT's One Woman Standing series last season. The Off-Broadway premiere production features costumes by Nicole Wee, lighting by G. Ben Swope, set by Tim McMath, music by Peter Saxe, sound by Aaron Blank and visual projections by David Bengali.
Founded in 1993, the mission of EMERGING ARTISTS THEATRE is to provide a dynamic home for emerging writers and artists, to develop their work from an idea to a fully realized production. In the past 18 years, EAT has premiered over 300 new works, garnered a Drama Desk Award nomination for Capathia Jenkins in (Mis)Understanding Mammy: The Hattie McDaniel Story, received the American Theatre Wing Award for Consistent Excellence in Theatre, and was named Best Off-Off-Broadway Theater Company in NYC for Actors to Work With by Back Stage. During its 2010- 2011 season, under the Artistic Direction of Paul Adams, EAT will showcase over two dozen new works. For more information visit www.emergingartiststheatre.org.
