By Andrew Gans
16 May 2009

Frenchie Davis

The national tour of Ain't Misbehavin', which co-stars "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard and former Rent star Frenchie Davis, makes a stop in New York City's Bronx borough May 16.

The 30th anniversary tour of the Tony-winning revue plays the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts at 8 PM. Tickets, priced $20-$45, are available by visiting www.lehmancenter.org.

Richard Maltby, Jr., who wrote and staged the original 1978 production of the Fats Waller revue, directs the tour. The cast also features Trenyce Cobbins, Patrice Covington and David Jennings. For a complete tour route, visit www.aintmisbehavinontour.com.

Conceived and originally directed by Maltby, Jr., Ain't Misbehavin' was based on an idea by Maltby, Jr. and Murray Horwitz. The original 1978 Broadway production made a star out of its leading lady, the late Nell Carter, and featured such Fats Waller tunes as "Mean to Me," "Honeysuckle Rose," "Black and Blue" and the title tune. The musical won Tonys for Best Musical, Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Carter) and Best Direction of a Musical (Maltby, Jr.).

Since winning the "American Idol" crown, Ruben Studdard has released the albums "Soulful," "I Need an Angel" and "The Return."

Frenchie Davis, who was recently seen in Mahalia–A Gospel Musical, made her Broadway debut in Rent. She played Effie in a regional tour of Dreamgirls, and she has also performed in professional productions of Little Shop of Horrors and Jesus Christ Superstar in Germany.

For more information visit www.bigleague.org.