Moore, Prymus and Fleming Star in Philly Ain't Misbehavin'
By Kenneth Jones
04 Dec 2007
Tony Award winner Melba Moore stars in the intimate Prince Music Theater production of Ain't Misbehavin', starting Dec. 4 in Philadelphia.
The troupe singing the tunes of Fats Waller also includes Broadway performers Eugene Fleming and Ken Prymus, plus Andrea Dora (of Broadway's Tarzan), Philadelphia native Gabrielle Hurtt (Prince's Hair) and (making her Prince debut) Chanta Layton (of Arden Theatre's Caroline, or Change).
Ain't Misbehavin' is staged by Prince Music Theater's associate artistic director Richard M. Parison, Jr. (who staged last season's Annie Get Your Gun and the sold-out run of Hair).
Choreographing the production is frequent Prince collaborator Mercedes Ellington (Annie Get Your Gun).
Ain't Misbehavin' officially opens Dec. 8 and continues to Dec. 31.
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The show that spotlights the music and style of songwriter-pianist Thomas "Fats" Waller appeared on Broadway in 1978 and won the Best Musical Tony Award. Conceived by Broadway director Richard Maltby, Jr. and Murray Horowitz, the show reintroduced songs from the Harlem Renaissance. The song list includes "T Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do," "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter" and "Honeysuckle Rose."
Melba Moore made her Broadway debut as Dionne in the original 1968 production of Hair. She went on to replace Diane Keaton in the role of Sheila and became the first African-American performer on Broadway to replace a white performer. In 1970, she created the role of Lutiebelle in Purlie, for which she won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. She would re-create the role for television opposite Robert Guillaume, in 1981. She earned Grammy nominations for her original music compositions and recordings. She has also performed as Fantine in the Broadway musical Les Misérables and recently played Matron Mama Morton in the national tour of Chicago at Philadelphia's Merriam Theatre.
Fleming's resume includes Broadway's A Chorus Line, the blues revue Black and Blue and most recently Never Gonna Dance. Prymus appeared in the original and revival Broadway casts of Ain't Misbehavin'.
The creative team includes resident music supervisor Eric Barnes, scenic designer Todd Edward Ivins, lighting designer Shelley Hicklin, sound designer Nick Kourtides and costume designer Mark Mariani.
For more information, visit www.princemusictheater.org.
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