R&B Musical From My Hometown Closed Aug. 21 | Playbill

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News R&B Musical From My Hometown Closed Aug. 21 From My Hometown, the new R&B musical about three wannabe Apollo Theatre stars fresh off the bus, closed quietly Aug. 21 at Off-Broadway's Gramercy Theatre, where it played 12 previews and 36 performances.

It opened July 22 after previews since July 12.

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The show had a developmental staging in Manhattan in 2003 and was seen regionally in a popular engagement at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre.

Set in New York City, From My Hometown, according to the announcement, "is a rags to riches tale of three young men, played by Kevin R. Free, André Garner and Rodney Hicks, just off the bus from Philadelphia, Detroit and Memphis — with a song on their lips, style in their steps and big dreams in their hearts of performing at the world famous Apollo Theatre. But can they rock the audition, become friends for life and still have time to top the R&B charts?"

Free played Memphis, Garner Detroit and Hicks Philly. The Gramercy is at 127 E. 23rd Street. Conceived by Lee Summers, the show was produced by Summers in association with Leonard Soloway and Steven M. Levy. It featured a book by Summers, Ty Stephens and Herbert Rawlings, Jr. with original music by Summers, Stephens and Will Barrow. The show was directed and co choreographed by Kevin Ramsey.

The score included original music plus three decades of Top-40 hits such as "Dock of the Bay," "Land of a Thousand Dances," "Chain Gang," "Working in a Coal Mine" and "Have You Seen Her?"

Songs originally performed by James Brown ("I Feel Good"), Otis Redding ("Try A Little Tenderness"), Lou Rawls ("Tobacco Road") and Jackie Wilson ("Lonely Teardrops") were part of the mix.

From My Hometown had its world premiere at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater in 1998 and was first presented in New York by Ben Blake and Lee Summers, in association with Amas Musical Theatre, in a developmental staging in 2003.

The 2004 creative team also included Leslie Dockery (co choreographer), Robert Fowler (associate choreographer), Jo Lynn Burks (vocal arranger and musical director), Matthew Myhrums (set and projection designer), Deborah A. Cheretun (costume designer), Aaron Spivey (lighting designer) and Ryan Powers (sound designer).

For refund information, contact Ticketmaster at (212) 307 4100 (www.ticketmaster.com). For more information visit www.frommyhometown.net.

 
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