Musical I Am Who I Am, Charting the Rise of Pendergrass, Begins March 7
By Andrew Gans
and Kenneth Jones
07 Mar 2008
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Teddy Pendergrass
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The Black Ensemble Theater's world-premiere musical, I Am Who I Am (The Story of Teddy Pendergrass) — produced, written and directed by the Chicago troupe's founder, Jackie Taylor — begins previews March 7.
Soul singer Pendergrass and co-writer Bill Jolly penned three new songs for the original musical about the life of the performer who has risen above his physical limitations. The production will officially open March 15.
Kevin McIlvaine and RaShawn Thompson share the title role of Teddy Pendergrass; the cast also includes Carrie, Tony Dawon, Ati Kin D'Hayes, Rueben Echoles, Kristy Johnson, Melanie McCullough, Dawn Mitchell, Dwight Neal, Rhonda Preston, Billy Simmons and Andre Wood.
"I Am Who I Am (The Story of Teddy Pendergrass) is the highly uplifting and motivational story of the man behind the music that reminds us that with faith and determination absolutely nothing is impossible," writer-director Taylor stated. Pendergrass and Jolly's new songs include "I Am Who I Am," "This Far By Faith" and "A Mother's Love."
Pendergrass gained recognition with Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes in 1972. His voice helped push the group to national success with hits like "I Miss You," "If You Don't Know Me By Now," "Bad Luck," "The Love I Lost" and "Wake Up Everybody," to name a few. In 1977 he went solo with his raw soulful style.
He was the first African-American singer to sell five platinum albums in a row ("TP" and "This Is Teddy Pendergrass," which
produced hits like "Close the Door," "Turn Off the Lights" and "Joy").
In 1982 Pendergrass was injured in a car accident, which left him paralyzed from mid-chest down. After a year of therapy he started recording again — signing a lucrative record deal with the Elektra-Asylum label.
The first single in 1984, "Hold Me in your Arms," was a duet with a teen-age Whitney Houston. He would go on to hit the charts with such classic as "Love Language" and "Truly Blessed."
Jimmy Tillman, Black Ensemble Theater's musical director, serves as musical director for I Am Who I Am (The Story of
Teddy Pendergrass), and Thomas Washington serves as musical arranger. Musicians include Tillman (drums), Washington (piano), Rick Hall (guitar), Bernard Reed (bass), Hank Ford (tenor saxophone), Paul Howard (trumpet) and Bill McFarland (trombone).
The design team for I Am Who I Am (The Story of Teddy Pendergrass) includes Glendar Howard (costumes), Carl Ulaszek (set), Denise Karzewski (lights), Ron White (sound) and Razor Griffith (stage management).
I Am Who I Am plays the Black Ensemble Theater, 4520 N. Beacon Street, Chicago.
Fore more information call (773) 769-4451 or (312) 902-1500, or visit www.ticketmaster.com www.BlackEnsembleTheater.org.
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The Black Ensemble Theater Company was founded in 1976 by Taylor, who has written and directed more than 100 productions for the company. In addition to its main stage productions, the Black Ensemble
Theater Company produces "Plays with a Purpose," a series of original
youth-oriented musicals, designed to teach students positive life lessons and values, as well as several community-based programs that use theatre arts to enrich the lives of countless students and families.
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