The jazz-age musical revue After Midnight, starring Grammy winner Fantasia Barrino, Emmy nominee Dulé Hill and Tony winner Adriane Lenox, officially opens on November 3 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.
Directed and choreographed by Tony nominee Warren Carlyle, After Midnight is set against a narrative of Langston Hughes’ poetry and celebrates Duke Ellington’s years at Harlem’s famed Cotton Club, using his original arrangements and performed by a world-class big band of 17 musicians.
After Midnight includes pieces by jazz composers of the time, including Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields ("I Can't Give You Anything But Love" and "Digga Digga Doo"), Harold Arlen ("Stormy Weather," "I've Got the World on a String," "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea") and Duke Ellington ("Rockin' in Rhythm," "Cotton Club Stomp," "Black and Tan Fantasy" and "Creole Love Call").
In addition to Barrino, Hill and Lenox, the After Midnight company includes Tony nominees Karine Plantadit and Desmond Richardson, Grammy nominee Everett Bradley, Jared Grimes, Julius “Iglide” Chisolm, Virgil J. Gadson, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Cedric Neal, T. Oliver Reid Monroe Kent, Carmen Ruby Floyd, Rosena M. Hill Jackson, Bryonha Marie Parham, Marija Abney, Phillip Attmore, Christopher Broughton, Taeler Elyse Cyrus, C.K. Edwards, Bahiyah Hibah, Erin Moore, Justin Prescott, Danielle Herbert, David Jennings, Monique Smith, Allysa Shorte and Daniel Watts.
Following Barrino will be Grammy winner K.D. Lang (February 11, 2014 to March 9) and Grammy-winning artists Toni Braxton and Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds (March 18 through 30). The creative team for After Midnight includes sound design by Peter Hylenski, scenic design by John Lee Beatty and lighting design by Howell Binkley.