Cullum, Dixon, Domingo, Hicks and More Will Star in Kander & Ebb's The Scottsboro Boys

By Kenneth Jones
14 Dec 2009

John Cullum, Brandon Victor Dixon and Colman Domingo
John Cullum, Brandon Victor Dixon and Colman Domingo
Photo by Aubrey Reuben

John Cullum, Brandon Victor Dixon and Colman Domingo will be featured in the world premiere of John Kander, Fred Ebb and David Thompson's The Scottsboro Boys, the Vineyard Theatre announced.

The cast and creatives for the Off-Broadway musical about a grim chapter in American justice were revealed Dec. 14. Previews begin Feb. 12, 2010, prior to an opening night of March 10. Direction and choreography are by Tony Award winner Susan Stroman.

In addition to two-time Tony winner Cullum and Domingo and Dixon (who appeared in a June 2009 reading of the material), the company will include Sean Bradford, Josh Breckenridge, Derrick Cobey, Rodney Hicks, Kendrick Jones, Forrest McClendon, Julius Thomas III, Sharon Washington, Cody Ryan Wise and Christian White.

The newly announced creative team includes set designer Beowulf Boritt, costume designer Toni-Leslie James, lighting designer Kevin Adams and sound designer Peter Hylenski. David Loud is music director; orchestrations are by Larry Hochman.

With music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by David Thompson, The Scottsboro Boys, according to the Vineyard, "explores the infamous 'Scottsboro' case of the 1930s, in which a group of African American teenagers were unjustly accused of attacking two white women — and the boys' attempts to prove their innocence. The musical…is a stirring and provocative new work depicting one of the most important and notorious chapters in the history of the American Civil Rights movement."

Vineyard Theatre previously produced Kander, Ebb, Thompson and Stroman's collaboration Flora, the Red Menace in 1987.

Cullum received Tony Awards for his performances On the Twentieth Century and Shenandoah.

Domingo has appeared on Broadway in Well and Passing Strange, and earlier this season debuted his acclaimed solo play A Boy and His Soul at Vineyard Theatre.

Dixon received a Tony nomination for his role as Harpo in The Color Purple.

Bradford appeared on Broadway in The Lion King; John Breckenridge was featured in the cast of The Ritz on Broadway; Hicks' credits include Jesus Christ Superstar and Rent on Broadway; Cobey appeared in this season's new musical Tin Pan Alley Rag Off-Broadway; Jones performed nationally with the dance troupe Tap City; McClendon appeared at the Prince Music Theatre in Philadelphia in Dreamgirls; Thomas appeared in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee in Chicago; Washington has performed in numerous productions at the Public Theater; White appeared in The Wiz by City Center Encores!; Wise appeared in the Encores! run of Damn Yankees.

Stroman won two Tony Awards as director and choreographer of The Producers. She co-created, directed and choreographed Contact for Lincoln Center Theater (Tony Award, Best Choreography). Other Broadway credits include Young Frankenstein, Oklahoma!, The Music Man, Steel Pier, Big, Crazy for You (Tony Award) and Show Boat (Tony Award).

For more information about Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15th St.), call (212) 353-3366 or visit www.vineyardtheatre.org.