NewsMary Bridget Davies Is Late Rock Icon in A Night with Janis Joplin, Beginning Sept. 20 on BroadwayA Night with Janis Joplin, which stars Mary Bridget Davies as the late rock singer, begins previews at Broadway's Lyceum Theatre Sept. 20 prior to an official opening Oct. 10.
By
Andrew Gans
September 20, 2013
Mary Bridget Davies
Photo by Jim Cox
Written and directed by Randy Johnson, the new musical features choreography by Astaire Award winner Patricia Wilcox.
Joining Davies, who is reprising her acclaimed performance as Joplin, are Taprena Michelle Augustine, Tony Award nominee de'Adre Aziza, Nikki Kimbrough and NaTasha Yvette Williams, who play Joplin’s backup singers, “The Joplinaires"; they are also featured as some of the iconic female singers who influenced Joplin’s music. The company also includes Allison Blackwell as Joplinaire swing and Alison Cusano as Joplinaire swing and Janis Joplin understudy.
Kacee Clanton is the Janis Joplin alternate. Starting Oct. 14, Davies will perform Tuesday through Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees (six performances per week). Clanton will perform Wednesday and Saturday matinees. For information during previews and the most up-to-date performance schedule, visit anightwithjanisjoplin.com.
"Like a comet that burns far too brightly to last, Janis Joplin (Mary Bridget Davies) exploded onto the music scene in 1967 and, almost overnight, became the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll," according to press notes. "The unmistakable voice filled with raw emotion and tinged with Southern Comfort made her a must-see headliner from Monterey to Woodstock. A Night with Janis Joplin is a musical journey celebrating Janis and her biggest musical influences – trailblazers like Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Odetta, Nina Simone and Bessie Smith, who inspired one of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s greatest legends."
The production arrives in New York following acclaimed engagements at Portland Center Stage, Cleveland Play House, Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, Pasadena Playhouse and Milwaukee Repertory Theater. The musical also features set and lighting design by Justin Townsend, costume design by Amy Clark, sound design by Carl Casella, projection design by Darrel Maloney, music direction by Ross Seligman and original music direction and arrangements by Len Rhodes.
Janis Joplin is produced on Broadway by Daniel Chilewich, Todd Gershwin, Michael Cohl, Jeffrey Jampol, TCG Entertainment, Stephen Tenenbaum, Richard Winkler, Ginger Productions, Jeremiah H. Harris, Claudio Loureiro, Keith Mardak, Michael J. Moritz Jr./Brunish & Trinchero, Ragovoy Entertainment, Bob and Laurie Wolfe/Neil Kahanovitz, Mike Stoller & Corky Hale Stoller, Susan DuBow, and Jerry Rosenberg, in association with The Estate of Janis Joplin and Jeffrey Jampol for JAM, Inc.
Tickets are available through Telecharge.com or by calling (212) 239-6200. The Lyceum Theatre is located at 149 West 45th Street.
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Day at Arena Stage With Broadway-Bound A Night With Janis Joplin Star Mary Bridget Davies
0
of
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Day at Arena Stage With Broadway-Bound A Night With Janis Joplin Star Mary Bridget Davies
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Day at Arena Stage With Broadway-Bound A Night With Janis Joplin Star Mary Bridget Davies
Prior to its September arrival at Broadway's Lyceum Theatre, the critically acclaimed A Night With Janis Joplin is playing an engagement at DC's Arena Stage. Leading lady Mary Bridget Davies shares a day in her life portraying the rock icon. Read the Playbill.com story.
38 PHOTOS
View from my apartment here in the nation's capital
Mary Bridget Davies
My dogs Diesel and Pearl on their morning play date
Mary Bridget Davies
Diesel loves to howl the Blues
Mary Bridget Davies
It's time for breakfast!
Mary Bridget Davies
Breakfast at Station 4— Eggs Chesapeake. A twist on the Benedict with spinach and tons of real crab meat instead of Canadian bacon. Delish!
View of Arena Stage from the sidewalk outside my apartment building
Mary Bridget Davies
My home for the next two months!
Mary Bridget Davies
Let's get to work!
Mary Bridget Davies
Checking in with assistant stage manager Jes Aguilar
Mary Bridget Davies
Signing show posters for promotional purposes
Mary Bridget Davies
Pre-show sound check with the band! (L to R) Patrick Harry, Ross Seligman, Stephen Flakus and S. Craig Taylor
Mary Bridget Davies
Traditional grip courtesy of drummer Mitch Wilson
Mary Bridget Davies
Casual Friday
Mary Bridget Davies
Guitarist Stephen Flakus and musical supervisor/guitarist Ross Seligman
Mary Bridget Davies
Our Chantels sequence record player and the Hammond Organ set
Mary Bridget Davies
I spend most of Act One here when not singing
Mary Bridget Davies
Alice Hawfield (wardrobe/wig crew) always makes sure I am wearing pants.
Mary Bridget Davies
So many guitars!
Mary Bridget Davies
My sister from another mister, Alison Cusano (Joplinaire/Janis alternate)
Mary Bridget Davies
Special delivery for Mary Bridget Davies…
Mary Bridget Davies
Gorgeous flowers from my family!
Mary Bridget Davies
My dressing room—time for show #1 of the day!
Mary Bridget Davies
Original member of The Chantels, Lois Harris Powell, came to see the show! Fellow cast member Kim Yarbrough and I are plotting a Broadway visit for The Chantels this fall…
Mary Bridget Davies
Cast member Kim Yarbrough (Joplinaire/Blues Singer alternate) and Lois Harris Powell
Mary Bridget Davies
Signing the Playbill for original Chantel Ms. Lois…pinch me!
Mary Bridget Davies
Outside the theater with Lois Harris Powell
Mary Bridget Davies
Grilled scallops, green beans and butternut squash soup for dinner. Quick turnaround then back to the theater to do show #2!
Mary Bridget Davies
Green room, quiet before the storm—(L to R) S. Craig Taylor, Alice Hawfield and Scott Silbert
Mary Bridget Davies
The band at half hour! (L to R) Patrick Harry, Stephen Flakus, Ross Seligman, Mitch Wilson and Tyler Evans
Mary Bridget Davies
The core band plus me at half hour!
Mary Bridget Davies
With musical supervisor/guitarist Ross Seligman
Mary Bridget Davies
The Joplinaires! Shay Saint-Victor and Alison Cusano (front) with Kim Yarbrough (back)
Mary Bridget Davies
The many wigs of The Blues Singer—so grateful I get to use my own hair for the show!
Mary Bridget Davies
Thank you crew! Justin Titley (props), Vincent Hill (wardrobe/wigs) and Emily Grace Blackstone (wardrobe/wigs)
Mary Bridget Davies
The Blues Singer (Sabrina Elayne Carten) and Janis are ready to light it UP!!
Mary Bridget Davies
Sneak peak from backstage left
Mary Bridget Davies
End of act one—Joplinaires and Aretha mugging for the camera. (L to R) Kim Yarbrough, Alison Cusano, Sabrina Elayne Carten and Shay Saint-Victor
Mary Bridget Davies
Sweaty and DONE! That's Alison Cusano and I signing off. Come see the show on Broadway this fall at the Lyceum Theatre!
