Performances are scheduled to begin March 2 at St. Mary's School. The African production of the musical about the African slave trade will continue through March 6.
The new musical, which tells the story of the tumultuous life of the man who composed the hymn "Amazing Grace," played 24 previews and 114 regular performances at the Nederlander Theatre. The Nairobi production bills the musical as "The song the world knows. The story it doesn't." Visit stmarys.ac.ke.
Amazing Grace on Broadway after an out-of-town Chicago tryout last fall. The musical struggled at the box office since previews began June 25.
The musical was written by newcomer , a self-taught musician who was a former police officer and a youth outreach and education director in Pennsylvania.
In addition to the title song, the show has music and lyrics by Smith, who co-wrote the book with .
Directed by (鈥檚 The Wild Party) and choreographed by Tony Award winner (), the Broadway cast was headed by Tony nominee , Tony nominee Tom Hewitt, , Tony Award winner , , Stanley Bahorek, , , and .
The ensemble featured , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Toni Elizabeth White and .
Amazing Grace is described as a "new original musical based on the awe-inspiring true story behind the world鈥檚 most beloved song. A captivating tale of romance, rebellion and redemption, this radiant production follows one man whose incredible journey ignited a historic wave of change. John Newton (Tony Award nominee Josh Young), a willful and musically talented young Englishman, faces a future as uncertain as the turning tide. Coming of age as Britain sits atop an international empire of slavery, he finds himself torn between following in the footsteps of his father 鈥� a slave trader 鈥� or embracing the more compassionate views of his childhood sweetheart (Erin Mackey). Accompanied by his slave, Thomas (Tony Award winner Chuck Cooper), John embarks on a perilous voyage on the high seas. When that journey finds John in his darkest hour, a transformative moment of self-reckoning inspires a blazing anthem of hope that will finally guide him home."
The creative team also included and (scenic design), Toni-Leslie James (costume design), and (lighting design), (sound design), (hair design), David Leong (fight and military movement), Gillian Lane-Plescia (dialect coach), (orchestrations), (music coordinator) and (music director, arranger, incidental music).
Amazing Grace was produced by Carolyn Rossi Copeland and Alexander Rankin.
