New York is getting another Cher jukebox musical. Dark Lady, which showcases songs made famous by the Grammy-winning icon with an original story (written by Mike Sheedy), will give invite-only industry presentations in Manhattan June 20. The project, being executive produced by Ken Davenport's Davenport Theatrical Enterprises, is aiming for an Off-Broadway run.
The presentation cast will include Rashidra Scott (Sunset Blvd.), Alysha Umphress (On the Town), Jasmine Forsberg (Six), Colin Bradbury (BOOP! The Musical), Davis Wayne (The Outsiders), Brandon Burks (Gypsy), DeMarius R. Copes (Elf), Jacob Dickey (Old Friends), Ninako Donville (Pirates! The Penzance Musical), Chavon Hampton, Amanda LaMotte (Once Upon a Mattress), Tatiana Lofton (Pirates! The Penzance Musical), Kristen Piro (Spamalot), Julio Rey (Lempicka), Kirsten Scott (Suffs), and Scarlett Walker (Carousel). Casting is by Geoff Josselson Casting.
Set in the American South at the turn of the century, Sheedy's story follows Queen, "a young gypsy who travels in a wagon train with her fortune-teller mother, her preacher father, and her two best friends鈥攁 free-spirited blonde and a fiery, fiddle-playing redhead. After receiving an ominous and foreboding fortune of events to come, Queen is forced to make a devastating decision that alters the course of her future." It seems safe to assume the score will include Cher's 1971 hit "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves."
Cher鈥攚ho made her Broadway debut as an actor in 1982's Come Back to the 5 & Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean鈥攚as the subject of an earlier jukebox musical on the Main Stem, 2018's The Cher Show, which used her music to tell the story of her life and career.
The show features orchestrations, arrangements, and music supervision by Sonny Paladino. Evan Bernardin Productions is serving as general managers, with company management by Arysbells Figueredo, sound design by Mike Tracey, stage management by Danny Maly, and assistant stage management by Julia Bregy.
Industry members interested in attending can email [email protected].
