Off-Broadway's York Theatre will present a concert of Ashwa, a new musical by Dahlak Brathwaite and Mikey Rosenbaum. Monet is directing.
Brathwaite is the inaugural recipient of York Theatre鈥檚 Micki Grant Artist-in-Residence Program. The concert presentation will take place June 13.
Press notes describe Ashwa as follows: "Ashwa is a superhero origin story inside a legend inside a legend inside the history of race in America inside a鈥affle House. Got it? For Thelonious Wright, all signs are pointing him back to ASHWA (the American Southern House of Waffles and Apple-pies)鈥攖he site of his trauma, the host of his lost memories. Against the backdrop of cyclical violence and outrage, Thelonious finds himself stuck inside the despairing loop of ASHWA...until a mysterious stranger walks in, interrupts the continuum, and launches Thelonious on a revelatory journey through time and the evolution of Black American music."
鈥淲e began developing this piece about 5 years ago and this is the first workshop opportunity we鈥檝e had,鈥� says Brathwaite in a previous statement. 鈥淭o be in the room and figure this thing out with such a talented group of people is a dream come true. I鈥檓 so grateful to the York Theatre and the Micki Grant Residency for helping us realize this vision. I鈥檓 humbled by the York Theatre鈥檚 investment in me as a creator and honored to be part of Micki Grant鈥檚 legacy in this way.鈥�
This concert cast for ASHWA is Tony nominee Crystal Lucas-Perry, Cheryse Dyllan, Chibueze Ihuoma, Keziah John-Paul, Aaron Michael Ray, Mikey Rosenbaum, Sis Thee Doll, and Garrett Turner.
Darnell White will serve as music director. Stage directions will be read by Bill DeMeritt. The stage manager is Leonor Perea.
